Hydrating (aroma) Hops Pellets (Do You?)

[BierMuncher]

I decided to try a new techinque for maximizing my flavor / aroma hops by hydrating my pellets in cool water about 20 minutes prior to adding at their designated times.

I figured that pellet shops added at flame out spend a fair amount of time just hydrating and breaking down. So, why not get a jump on that process prior to adding them.

Any one els ever hydrate their hops (whole or pellet) prior to adding for aroma or flavor?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Nope, I've never tried it or heard of anyone else doing it.

 

[the_bird]

You're fibbing, BM!

Don't lie.... that's your "Homebrew Metamucil," ain't it?

 

[Silviakitty]

Kinda off-topic, but that has to be one of the strangest-looking concoctions I've seen...if it weren't for the hop shortage, I'd dare you to stick a straw in it and have at.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I rehydrate my Irish Moss.

I swear that looks like something Orfy would cook up for a Saturday evening BBQ. I bet he even has a recipe to go with that too!!

 

[cowgo]

All I'm seeing is one BierMuncher and two cups.:fro:

 

[homebrewer_99]

Is that a "Power Shake"???

 

[Jesse17]

That's just Orfy's Hops Pesto Sauce.

Actually, it kind of makes sence, but I'll wait to see how BM's turns out.

 

[SuperiorBrew]

Throw them in 15 seconds earlier

 

[Evets]

Try it with boiling water and see how long it takes, compared to the cool water in your example.
Just one more thing to clean up, if you ask me.

 

[Chris_Dog]

That makes wheat grass shots look good

 

[the_bird]

BM's just looking for any excuse to water down his beer... freakin' lightweight.

 

[Bobby_M]

I actually throw my aroma additions in with 5 minutes remaining to dissolve them well. I doubt the short boil drives off much aroma.

 

[FlyGuy]

I don't hydrate my aroma hops. but I do find that this is a great technique for dry hopping. Just add a wee bit of boiling water (just enough to cover the pellets) and let them stand for 5 mins, then pitch the whole thing into the fermenter. The hot water helps release a lot of the resins and aromatics much better than if they were added directly into a cool fermenter alone.

I got this idea off a podcast on Basic Brewing Radio -- I think it was the Gerard Lemmens episode (1 Sept. 2005).

 

[BierMuncher]

BM's just looking for any excuse to water down his beer... freakin' lightweight.

Yeah...but I'm a cheap date...

 

[cowgo]

I don't hydrate my aroma hops. but I do find that this is a great technique for dry hopping. Just add a wee bit of boiling water (just enough to cover the pellets) and let them stand for 5 mins, then pitch the whole thing into the fermenter. The hot water helps release a lot of the resins and aromatics much better than if they were added directly into a cool fermenter alone.

I got this idea off a podcast on Basic Brewing Radio -- I think it was the Gerard Lemmens episode (1 Sept. 2005).

I'm going to try that next time. Thanks for the tip.

 

[BierMuncher]

I don't hydrate my aroma hops. but I do find that this is a great technique for dry hopping. Just add a wee bit of boiling water (just enough to cover the pellets) and let them stand for 5 mins, then pitch the whole thing into the fermenter. The hot water helps release a lot of the resins and aromatics much better than if they were added directly into a cool fermenter alone.

I got this idea off a podcast on Basic Brewing Radio -- I think it was the Gerard Lemmens episode (1 Sept. 2005).

I read your post and thought "what a great idea".

Then I had a few beers.

Then I went downstairs and pitched a half-ounce of Mt. Hood Pellets into two of my fermenters that had a pale ale conditioning....

Pitched em dry.

I really need to not be allowed to do any brewing tasks after drinking. :cross:

 

[TexLaw]

I've never heard of such a thing, but I'm interested to hear how it works out.

Why am I thinking of Popeye?


TL

 

[Catch22sh]

I did a search for this topic, because I had a thought about this. I do most of my brewing with pellet hops, but I do grow a little of my own. I have Cascade, Centennial, Nugget, Willamette and Columbus. I dry and freeze them for later brews.

The problem with whole hops, especially those that were dried, is that they soak up a ton of wort. I don't bitter with my own hops, but I do add a lot post 30 mins. Would there be a benefit to rehydrating them simply so they don't soak up so much wort in the process?

 

[jayway]

It's nothing new, IIRC Pliney clone recipes call for this technique for the two stage dry hopping. So if Russian River practices it then it has to be a winner. It just seems so messy so I personally have never tried it.

 

[DonGavlar]

It's nothing new, IIRC Pliney clone recipes call for this technique for the two stage dry hopping. So if Russian River practices it then it has to be a winner. It just seems so messy so I personally have never tried it.

10 year old thread, may not have been as well known back then

 

[jayway]

Dang! Didn't even notice that so good catch!

 

[GPP33]

So what’s the current consensus then? Worth it or not? Seems you’d have to water it down a lot in order to not leave a bunch in the glass.

 

[mongoose33]

So what’s the current consensus then? Worth it or not? Seems you’d have to water it down a lot in order to not leave a bunch in the glass.

You could use a sanitized rubber spatula to scrape out any leftovers.

 

[kh54s10]

Didn't read any results, never have tried it. But, how long does it really take pellet hops to break up? I put mine in a paint strainer bag, dunk it in the boil or even after flameout. Swirl a bit, lift the bag and there is just hop goo... Seconds at best. To me it is as was said in 2008, just another thing that you have to clean.