Hopping with pellets

[Mobstar]

Good day,

I'm about to brew a big IIPA this weekend and I was wondering what the best method is for pellet hop addition to the boiling wort. I've heard people use muslin bags, others use a suspended muslin bag and throw all the pellets in there, others just toss the pellets right in the boil.

I don't have a fancy kettle with a false bottom or bazooka type filters so I'm wondering what method would be most efficient. Does all the flavor and oils get extracted when the pellets are all bunched up in the muslin bags?

also, is it wise to squeeze out all the liquid from the bags/hops if you use them?

Thank you!

 

[ImNoExpert]

I used to put them in muslin bags. It worked but had a few instances when the bag got sucked into my dip tube while recirculating/sanitizing. I'd get some cotton string and tie it to a handle.

I never squeezed the bags, they'd release what they would release and I let it go at that.

 

[eluterio]

I am going to guess your boiling a full volume batch in a good size kettle. If you have the option to suspend the bag and toss your hops into the bag like a hop spider that will work just fine. If you have several bags you can put hops into your bag and dump individually will work. Last yes if you can drop all your hops into the kettle with no bag.

In reference to your efficiency question I believe there is a little loss when put into the bag however, many may argue that you cant tell. I personally don't think it really matters in regards to the flavor and aroma its more of a preference. Ive done both and one thing that I have noticed more hop trub in my carboy when I don't put them in a bag.

Its not wise at all to squeeze out 212 degree hot hop sack it will burn and hurt. If your thinking to do this after it cools doing this would increase your chances of getting an infection. Imagine all the nasty bugs on your hands from a long day of brewing.

 

[xpops]

I personally use the hop socks for additions. I've tried just tossing them in to "keep it simple", but it really just keeps it more messy.

I also dont squeeze the hop sacks. I tie them loosely enough so that there is ample room for the pellets to expand, and it provides lots of surface coverage to extract the goods from them. I feel that satisfies my needs and don't feel like i need to squeeze every little bit of wort form the sacks.

Higher levels of so4 will help accentuate your bitterness for you - i assume this is the hop efficiency you're looking for?

 

[ncbrewer]

I put the hops in loose and transfer into the fermenter. Simple, and no mess - they just settle out with the trub. Never picked up any grassy flavors.

 

[LostHopper]

Commando hop pellet additions for me. No problems.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Hop bag attached to the pot rim with a clothspin works great,squeezing is fine but the bag is piping hot.

 

[day_trippr]

I use whole cones in muslin bags, pellets in nylon mesh bags, and squeeze 'em to death using insulated pvc gloves. Ain't no way I'm kissing off a quart or more of wort when a batch has 8-10 ounces of kettle hops...

Cheers!

 

[pvpeacock]

Just throw them in the kettle and let them swim free. Then just pour everything into your fermenter, hop pellets and all. They will sink to the bottom no problem and not cause any change in taste. See: http://brulosophy.com/2014/06/02/the-great-trub-exbeeriment-results-are-in/

If you are absolutely dead set on not having trub in your fermenter like I am( because I have a conical fermenter which can get clogged up with too much trub), then filter it as it comes out of your brew kettle. I put a colander on top of my fermenter and line it with a BIAB bag. I then pour the wort into the BIAB bag/colander and let it filter it. When I'm done, I squeeze the living heck out of the bag to get every last drop of hop juice out of it. Works great.

 

[str1p3s]

I toss them in free and strain through a paint strainer or grain bag when pouring into the carboy

 

[Sailingeric]

I try to use whole leaf but when I do use pellets I toss them in. I do keep a spatula handy to scrap down the hop material that gets suck on the side of the pot.

 

[pvpeacock]

Also see this experiment which is more on point.

http://brulosophy.com/2016/03/21/kettle-hops-loose-vs-bagged-exbeeriment-results/

 

[bja]

Its not wise at all to squeeze out 212 degree hot hop sack it will burn and hurt.

:smack:

If your thinking to do this after it cools doing this would increase your chances of getting an infection. Imagine all the nasty bugs on your hands from a long day of brewing.

Maybe you could wash your hands first. That's what I do.

 

[pvpeacock]

I strain my cool wort through a colander lined with a BIAB bag. When the brew kettle is done draining, I just dip my hands in starsan, grab the BIAB bag and squeeze it until every last drop of wort/hop juice is in the fermenter. I've never, ever had an infection doing this.