Hops - some float, some sink

[agentbud]

If she floats, she's a witch. If she sinks, she's innocent.
Now, related to Hops - I tossed a bunch of T90 into my fermenter for dry hop at 55 degrees (mix of 3 different hop varieties).
Most floated but some sank immediately to the bottom. I assumed all would float. Why did some sink? Is that an indication of any problem with those hops?

 

[fluketamer]

its prolly not a problem with the hops.

a duck also floats.

 

[hotbeer]

Might be that the pressing of them into a pellet left some with a slightly higher density and others at a lower density. I wouldn't think we need to make much of it. We have enough anecdotal and circumstantial thoughts on too many other things we argue about.

These were pelletized hops you are talking about?

 

[agentbud]

yes, T90 pelletized hops

 

[Franktalk]

It's a great question! These days with heavily dry hopped beers, and cool and short dry hopping, we need to know the answer to your question! I wish I could provide the answer, but instead I am interested in what the experts have to say. And Scott Janish (as far as I know) has not provided information on how you can dry hop for only two or three days, yet be able to transfer / package the end product. So I am awaiting some expert advise here.

 

[fphredd]

Small rocks?

 

[marc1]

It's a great question! These days with heavily dry hopped beers, and cool and short dry hopping, we need to know the answer to your question! I wish I could provide the answer, but instead I am interested in what the experts have to say. And Scott Janish (as far as I know) has not provided information on how you can dry hop for only two or three days, yet be able to transfer / package the end product. So I am awaiting some expert advise here.

I don't understand what you are asking here... Dry hop, cold crash, transfer. Would you like suggestions on the mechanics of the process?

 

[Miraculix]

Have you tried licking the pellets individually before pitching?

 

[Franktalk]

I don't understand what you are asking here... Dry hop, cold crash, transfer. Would you like suggestions on the mechanics of the process?

No, I want to know how brewers get all the hops to sink quicky, so I can keg my IPAs within two or three days of dry hopping!

 

[k-daddy]

My question is about hop utilization and efficiency considering cooler DH temps (which tend to quickly sink the hop matter) and a conical fermenter which lessens the amount of surface area once the hops settle into the cone. I recirculate and sometimes rouse using bursts of co2 from the dump valve but I'm curious as to whether or not it's actually a benefit over just letting them sink and sit undisturbed for the 2-3 day DH.

 

[Willy]

I have found that some leafy meals are more likely to produce a floater, while other meals like beef stroganoff is gonna be a sinker. Oh wait .... Hops. Sorry

 

[marc1]

No, I want to know how brewers get all the hops to sink quicky, so I can keg my IPAs within two or three days of dry hopping!

Dry hop for 18 hours or so then cold crash. After a day or 2 closed transfer through screened floating dip tube in the fermenter to serving keg. My fermenter isn't clear so I have no idea if the hops sink, but it hasn't been relevant as far as I can tell.

 

[sibelman]

get all the hops to sink quicky

Could you pre-moisten them (more thoroughly and sanitarily than @Miraculix 's suggestion, of course)?

 

[Miraculix]

Could you pre-moisten them (more thoroughly and sanitarily than @Miraculix 's suggestion, of course)?

What have we come to....

... Nobody licks their hops anymore these days.....

 

[bwible]

No, I want to know how brewers get all the hops to sink quicky, so I can keg my IPAs within two or three days of dry hopping!

They sell metal mesh containers. I have a couple of these. They work for adding oak, too. Note: you need a Fermonster, bucket, or other fermenter with a wide mouth.

Beer Dry Hopper Filter,300 Micron Mesh Stainless Steel Hop StrainerCartridge,Homebrew Hops Beer & Tea Kettle Brew Filter (18cm x 7cm) https://a.co/d/jifRJSd

or you can use something like a tea ball if you can find one big enough. Remember hops expand.

In the old days they sold muslin “hop bags”. You put your hops in that with some sanitized marbles or something similar to force it to sink.

 

[Miraculix]

I always used hops socks with a little stone inside or some other type of weight. Boil them before usage and they are good. You can reuse them.

I actually wanted to try throwing in the dry pellets this batch to see what happens.... but now I have chickened out because I am fearing clogging my bottling stick. I leave the dry hops be this time.

 

[HM-2]

I get this all the time with Strata. Every time I used Strata in DH, I get about 1/3 of the pellets sinking and 2/3 of them floating.
Never been able to figure out why and it seems to only be in beers that have Strata in them.

 

[Miraculix]

I get this all the time with Strata. Every time I used Strata in DH, I get about 1/3 of the pellets sinking and 2/3 of them floating.
Never been able to figure out why and it seems to only be in beers that have Strata in them.

Are they actually dissolving at some point?

In general, do you guys here have success without cold crashing and bottling after 2 days of dry hopping? Or do you guys think that it is not even worth the try because it will fail anyway?

 

[agentbud]

I get this all the time with Strata. Every time I used Strata in DH, I get about 1/3 of the pellets sinking and 2/3 of them floating.
Never been able to figure out why and it seems to only be in beers that have Strata in them.

Interesting. One of my three varieties was Strata. Maybe those were the ones that were sinking...

 

[HM-2]

Are they actually dissolving at some point?

They're generally swollen and in a fragmented/powdery form rather than discernable pellets. I tend to rouse twice with CO2 so I know they're getting decent circulated.

I'm not sure it's having any effect on utilisation, the recent batches of Strata have just been that weird combination of very powderly and super oily. It's also not really affected by soft crashing so I assume it's just a case of their density being so close to that of the beer that they don't sink properly.

It could also be due to DH under slight pressure (~5PSI) as I know that the release of CO2 in suspension can be a factor.