Hops pellets right into boil or in a sack

[Kaz]

I made the move about a year ago from Mr. Beer to 5 gal. extract batches. When making the Mr. Beer kits that came with hops pellets, they always came with a sack to put them in. I notice that the 5 gal. kits I get don't have a hops sack. Is it better to just put the pellets right into the boil or is it worth having a sack?

 

[frazier]

I've done it both ways. My last beer, a scottish ale, had only a 60 minute hop addition; I put it in a sack. When I did Yooper's Hopped-Up Amber, it has about 5 hop additions, I didn't feel like having that many sacks floating around, so I just tossed the pellets in. There are ways around that problem, so I could have done it different. The beer came out clear in the end.

Your call.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Personally, I use a 1 gal nylon paint strainer for my hops in the boil and a 5 gal paint strainer (WAAAY cheaper than buying hop bags from LHBS...usually come 2 to a package) to strain the break out of the wort when I pour into my fermenting bucket because I wash yeast and try to remove as much trub as possible. If I have multiple additions I use a couple of bags, but you can throw them in together. Binder clips are useful to keep bags attached to the rim of the pot. I did notice that Ray Daniels (Designing Great Beers) suggests that hop bags can reduce hop utilization by constricting contact with the wort, but I make pretty hoppy beers and don't notice any ill effects. Just a whole lot easier to strain my wort. Hops can quickly clog a large strainer bag if they are just floatin around in the boil. Personal choice really.

 

[logan3825]

You need one of these things. There are pictures in post 26 and later. About $10 for all the parts. I made one using a bathrobe hook to hang on the side of the pot. The most expensive part was SS nuts or washers to weigh down the bag.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

I truly can't believe I didn't com eup with that on my own...I was a freakin plumber for years and I have a couple of 5 gal strainers. Innovation fail, and once again this forum rocks!!!

 

[Anubis]

If you Whirlpool it would be better to use a bag, but if you're just pouring into the ferm just put a screen on a funnel. Also with how hop pellets drop out I hear if you get some in your ferm you can rack w/out problem.
I use whole hops with muslin bags or nothin at all so maybe I have no say

 

[brewingkitty]

i awlways throw my sack into the boil!

 

[akthor]

I just add them to the boil, I do 30 day primaries. I never see any of the hops in my beer when I syphon to the kegs.

I did a 2 week primary on a Graff using hop plugs an saw some (tiny bit) come up the syphon tube when I kegged. But I will transfer to a clean keg after it's cold crashed and carbed for a month I am sure they will be left behind.

I did use some whole hops for a Corona clone and those I did throw in a bag.

 

[ndsgr]

I don't strain or use bags. Primary for a month, no hops in the end. I always thought the reason for bags was to eliminate a potential vegetal off flavor (hops particles having out too long). I haven't experienced this either.

 

[DarkUncle]

My first time using pellets, I just tossed them in. Yesterday, I put them in a sack. The amount of crud that the sack contained after the boil tells me it's better to use the bags. Not nearly as much junk in the bottom of the kettle as the first time when I just tossed them in.

As far as the straining screen on the funnel goes, I find that to be almost useless. It clogs up almost immediately and I'm left with a funnel full of wort. I had to dunk my hand in sanitizer before dunking it into the funnel full or wort to get that darn screen out of there so I could get it into the fermenter. PITA.

 

[sportscrazed2]

so does using a bag diminish the amount of acids being isomerized or what? if not then i will pick one up

 

[Yooper]

so does using a bag diminish the amount of acids being isomerized or what? if not then i will pick one up

Yes, it can. If you use a bag, make sure the hops are "loose" in there, and the wort flows freely though the bagged hops. Don't pack them in tightly, in order to get more hops in there! Use more bags if you have to, in order to keep them in contact with the wort.

I'm one to just toss the hops in the kettle, and set it settle out later, but with my new system sometimes hops can clog my pump. I use bags for most of my pellets now, because of that.

 

[kingmatt]

I just toss them right into the boil and then pour my wort through a 5 gallon paint strainer when transferring from my kettle to my ale pail...works like a charm!

 

[JeffB]

i awlways throw my sack into the boil!

Ouch!

 

[crazyseany]

I have no opinion... As I'm just learning. I just put my hops right in and when I poured to primary... Tried to leave most in bottom of Kettle.

was listening to a podcast yesterday and their theory was the bag might absorb a few IBU's... And if you do use one make sure it's larger then needed to allow plenty of circulation...

sean

 

[Revvy]

They both work. It's a matter of preference. I think I used a hopsack for the first 3 beers then afterwards I stopped.

 

[borden]

I use a nylon bag for the bittering hops, then throw the aroma pellets straight into the pot at flameout or a minute or two before.

Why? I don't know. It's just what I do. Which I think gets at the general range of preferences on this forum!

 

[rjwhite41]

If in fact the utilization rates of hops are lowered by use of a bag (which makes sense to me) you could overcome it by using more hops and then you wouldn't know the difference. I personally just throw them in and then when transferring wort to the carboy I leave them behind with the cold break. If some does get into the carboy it will fall out with the yeast and trub no problem. When I first started I used bags and I thought I got less bittering because of it. Can be done either way though.

 

[Coff]

This thread is kind of perfect timing for me. I did a 2 Hearted clone on Saturday and since it was calling for 5 ounces for a 5 gal batch I figured it might make my life a little easier to use a hop sack.

I just used a large muslin bag clipped to the side of the kettle and I just threw all my additions into the same bag. It held about 90% of the hop particles from the pellets, but tbh I dont think Im going to be using this method again. All the hops were decently submerged but it was floating on the top a little more than I would have liked.

Im going back to pour the cooled wort through my strainer bag into the bucket, helps with aeration anyway.

 

[Homercidal]

I have been wanting to use a bag for a while now, but the thought of the hops all clumped together in a sack was a bit of a turn-off. I have plans to build a device that spreads out the paint strainer bag to allow the hops to float around freely. Hopefully I will be testing it out on my next batch. Just deciding on the best layout for ease of construction and minimal use of SS, not to mention packability. I think the biggest challenge will be working with the foaming that will occur. There is a lot less area to help keep the foam down that without an open bag in the kettle.

Anyway, it all works and if you use a sack consider throwing a bit extra in to counter the effect of the bag not allowing the wort to flow amongst the hops as much.

One idea I have is to make a SS ring that you can slip into the bag before placing into the kettle. It will keep the bottom of the bag open and "hopefully" allow the wort to circulate more effectively.