Hops

[steve133]

When using hop pellets do u end up loosing or not getting enough of the full potential a full hop leaf gives? I know most kits come with pellets but is that just for eze. Would i get a better beer if i use leave?

 

[kpr121]

Its actually the other way around... leaf hops have lower utilization per oz.

 

[unionrdr]

I've noticed that pellets are easier to get bittering from. As if the pellets lupulin glands being crushed makes it come out faster than whole leaf. Leaf hops are mellower,but give more definition of flavor.

 

[steve133]

Its actually the other way around... leaf hops have lower utilization per oz.

What about a hop plug? Is it the same as a hop pellet?

 

[steve133]

I've noticed that pellets are easier to get bittering from. As if the pellets lupulin glands being crushed makes it come out faster than whole leaf. Leaf hops are mellower,but give more definition of flavor.

So im looking to brew a bourbon stout but i want to use honey jack soaked oak chips would it be better to use leaf hops to not over power the honey jack?

 

[unionrdr]

The honey jack soaked oak chips will even overpower pellet hops. So you may have to adjust hopping amounts to taste the hops as well as the oak & jack.

 

[kpr121]

You may be over thinking it a bit. For our homebrewing purposes there’s not a whole great deal of difference in terms of ‘hoppyness’ between one type and the other. If you want less hop bitterness or aroma, simply use a little less. If you want more, use more. It mostly comes down to convenience and what you can acquire on hand. I like pellets because they take up less room in my freezer. But leave is nice to use when dry hopping because they are not as messy and don’t end up in the final product as much.

FWIW, heres a brief discussion on whole, plug and pellet:

Copied from Realbeer.... http://realbeer.com/hops/FAQ.html

Different Hop Products
Much has been written about what form of hops should be used. Loose hops are just that: loose cones which have been dried after picking. Plugs are loose hops which have been subsequently pressed into a bung under pressure, generally in 0.5 oz. sizes. Pellets are loose hops which have been ground to a fine powder and then pressed into rabbit-food-sized pellets.

Loose Hops
Advantages: They are the most natural form of the ingredient. They float, which is good for siphoning out from under, and form a natural filter bed. When they are fresh, they beat all other forms in delivering the original hop compounds to the beer (processing hops alters the volatile hop compounds in many ways).
Disadvantages: They float, so some contact with a still wort (as in dry hopping) is thought to be lost; this disadvantage is certainly arguable though, especially when it is considered that by using weighted hop bags, it is a non-issue. Since they are loose, exposure to air (oxygen) may be greater which could cause them to lose quality more quickly than the other forms of hops (note that this point is debatable). When stored in vacuum- sealed or CO2 or nitrogen purged Oxygen barrier bags or jars, this potential problem can be avoided. They are bulkier than other forms.


Plugs
Advantages: Are nearly the same as loose hops, in that, when hydrated, they become whole hop cones again. Like loose hops, they float. They may be better protected from air, but this is unproven.
Disadvantages: Few hop varieties come in this form. Currently, any domestic varieties are first shipped to England where they are made into plugs and then shipped back to the U.S. This probably negates any potential freshness advantage they have over loose hops (for U.S. varieties). It is difficult, but not impossible to separate into increments smaller than 0.5 oz. The compression of the hops into this form causes the lupulin glands to burst, which causes a finite loss of the volatile hop aromatic compounds and could cause increased alpha acid oxidation.


Pellets
Advantages: Convenient to measure and may have better protection from air (another unproven assumption). They sink, so they get maximum contact in a still wort, as when used for dry hopping (may or may not be an advantage). If they are subsequently covered with dead yeast, wort contact is mostly lost, so careful timing is recommended when using them for dry hopping. They reportedly contribute 10% more alpha acids to the wort because of maximized surface area, so are a more efficient use of this relatively expensive ingredient. They are generally available in more varieties.
Disadvantages: They sink and are powdered, so it is difficult to avoid them when siphoning. The extra processing of chopping and compressing negatively affects hop compounds.

Given the pros and cons listed, the choice of which form of hop to use in a certain application is up to the individual brewer and dependent upon the individual brewhouse. With some kettle arrangements (those using a hopback, for instance) loose hops can form a utilitarian filter bed. In others, the mass of loose hops can be a nuisance and soak up a large quantity of wort which is lost to the brewer. It should be noted that fresh, whole hops are available today from many sources, including mail-order nationwide (US) from companies such as Just Hops, Freshops, and HopTech, which may negate many of the advantages of processed hops.

 

[user 98891]

I liked whole hops as my local shop tended to have more of them in stock. However, I switch to pellets when I do hop heavy beers like IIPA. This is because the whole hops tend to clog my dip tube and makes draining the boil kettle a nightmare.