New way to control Pellet Hop gunk!

[philipCT]

Hey just wanted to say thanks for all the info here on this thread.

I've brewed twice with the new filter that Chad at Arbor Fab built to my specs. I have the 19" diameter Blingman 20g BK, so I went with a 8" diameter by 15" deep filter from 400 micron screening.

It's not just good, it's a total godsend. Getting the last 2-3 gallons out of that kettle has always been a total PITA. I used to have to slow the draw down to a dribble, or perform major in-flight surgery on the dip-tube.

Well, with the new filter, I ran the chiller at max throughput and filled the 5g fermenter in about 15 minutes. I didn't actually time it but there was zero hangup or problem - no clogging in the pump or lines and the wort was clear of any and all chunky stuff.

I selected the 400 micron, so there is some fairly fine break material left in the bottom of the BK, but my decision was to maximize wort flow-through to enhance hops utilization. It will settle out in the fermenter and I use a convolutus CFC, not a plate chiller, so I'm not worried about clogging up the plates.

One last thing: I ordered over the phone with Chad on a Monday. Given it was a custom order, he said he would try to get to it by the end of the week. He finished it and shipped it out Wednesday, and I had it on Friday on time for weekend brew sessions. Great service.

 

[MX1]

Got my filter in the mail today, it was one of the only good things to happen today.

I can not speak well enough of Chad, I will say that he did the old bait and switch, what we discussed over email, and what he sent me do not appear to be the same item....what he sent was much better!!!!

Thanks

T

 

[brewguyver]

There's a reason this is titled for pellet hop gunk.

Used the filter (6" x 14") with leaf hops on brew two... did not go as well as planned. I also made the mistake of throwing some leaf directly in the bk and draining was bad news.

On brew 3 I went back to pellet - and I used this to filter the wort between a BIAB mash and the boil. The Irish Red came out almost crystal clear!

So in short, stick to pellet hops for the smaller screens and you should be pretty damn happy.

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

you should be pretty damn happy.

Not mention very hoppy, thanks for the info. If I get tempted to use extra dry hops in the boil I'll know better.

 

[MX1]

Forgot to post

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1425561757.983296.jpg

 

[Zeppman]

Has anyone done a side by side comparison of using the filter versus free floating hops? I'm sorry if this has already been discussed in the past 124 pages and I missed it...

I'd like to try one of these, just want to make sure I get the same hop flavor (or hoppier flavor!)

 

[wobdee]

Has anyone done a side by side comparison of using the filter versus free floating hops? I'm sorry if this has already been discussed in the past 124 pages and I missed it...

I'd like to try one of these, just want to make sure I get the same hop flavor (or hoppier flavor!)

This is just a guess but I figure I lose 10-15% utilization with my hop basket verses without.

 

[sweetcell]

This is just a guess but I figure I lose 10-15% utilization with my hop basket verses without.

during the boil i use a soup laddle or (empty) coffee mug to pour some wort into the mesh filter, which creates some additional circulation within the filter. the idea is to help "wash out" the oils, alpha acids, etc and get them into the main boil where they are isomerized, transformed, volatilized, etc. pretty sure this helps minimize utilization loss.

 

[brewguyver]

Has anyone done a side by side comparison of using the filter versus free floating hops? I'm sorry if this has already been discussed in the past 124 pages and I missed it...

I'd like to try one of these, just want to make sure I get the same hop flavor (or hoppier flavor!)

theres 3-4 posts at least if you go back through. Maybe try google search to do it more quickly?

I think this will be better than hop bags because you have more room to flow. Worst case use a little more hops. I've found i've lost way less beer to trub after using mine, so i figure it works out.

 

[augiedoggy]

during the boil i use a soup laddle or (empty) coffee mug to pour some wort into the mesh filter, which creates some additional circulation within the filter. the idea is to help "wash out" the oils, alpha acids, etc and get them into the main boil where they are isomerized, transformed, volatilized, etc. pretty sure this helps minimize utilization loss.

I stir the wort/hops inside of my basket to re suspend them since they otherwise settle to the bottom I also raise and lower it like a teabag from time to time...This works very well.

According to arbor the 300micron is recommended for pellet hops and the 400 is better for leak hops but they are pretty close as far as filtering capacity and honestly the way I understand it leaf hps are just as likely to plug a 600 micron screen as a 300 in reality.... the pellet hops is where the difference is...
I used the smaller 4X10 basket for about 8 months and then switched to the 6x14 (I believe) and the larger basket with more surface area helped my hop utilization quite a bit.

 

[MX1]

Forgot to post

View attachment 261025

Maiden voyage today, only 2oz of hops, but it worked well!

Next brew has 9oz......

T

 

[augiedoggy]

I made a smoked esb yesterday which had about 4 oz of hops and had absolutely no issues.. There was plenty of hop flavor when I tasted it. I really think that raising and lowering it is the best way to get circulation of liquid in and out of the basket and will allow better utilization. As mentioned the liquid in the basket will never be boiling.. also the hops do eventually turn into a solid clump at the bottom unless you mix them up from time to time.

 

[gtmaus]

Question to the brew in a basket brewers out there. I got a quote for a custom basket and was wondering about a few things before I pull the trigger.

How's your brewing experience with the basket compared to the bag?

Anyone recirculating with these and how's the drainage through the basket? Are you getting pretty consistent temps or are there heat issues below the basket?

Are there any concerns about scorching with an electric system?

I've already picked up a hop basket and couldn't be happier with it. Just curious if the pluses equal the cost.

 

[cbarker777]

So I have gone threw most of this thread and don't see my question but I apologize in advance if it's been asked. Is anyone using this for grain kind of like the basket from a brew-boss? If so how has it worked?

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

Yep, 400micron, it works well. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1432896424.644295.jpg

 

[wobdee]

I've been using a grain basket for about 1.5 years and it works great.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=380656

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=482024

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

@wobdee your thread was definitely an inspiration for my 1.5 gal eBIAB recirculating system. I don't get clear wort like with my eHERMS, but so far the end result has been just fine.

 

[cbarker777]

Yep, 400micron, it works well. View attachment 281093

Do you use a false bottom still?

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

Not for my small batch eBIAB, basket does all the work. Keeps the grains off my element and forms the filter bed (sort of). Haven't got any grain husks slip through but there's a lot more trub after the boil than I'm used to.

 

[brewfarmDan]

I've been communicating with the seller. He's pretty open to any customized project..I'm current brainstorming what size I want him to build for me.

He contact info for anyone interested is below (posted with permission)


Chad Beauchamp 734-626-5864
[email protected]
Arbor Fabricating LLC

Thanks.

 

[brewfarmDan]

Too many pages to read them all so this may be redundant. I want to use this in the Boil but also in the Conical for dry hop. The brackets shown for hanging on the side of the kettle are too thick to use between the lid seals on the fermenter. Has anyone considered one with a closable lid that can just be submerged in the fermenter? Thanks

 

[mr_samsonite]

Too many pages to read them all so this may be redundant. I want to use this in the Boil but also in the Conical for dry hop. The brackets shown for hanging on the side of the kettle are too thick to use between the lid seals on the fermenter. Has anyone considered one with a closable lid that can just be submerged in the fermenter? Thanks

Like this?

 

[brewfarmDan]

Mr Sam, I like that but was hoping to use I screen for both Kettle and Fermenter..

 

[TheHairyHop]

Like this?

what's the oz limit for dry hopping and boiling?

 

[ArborFab]

We've been asked for years for a filter to control pellet hop gunk in hop backs, now we have one! We designed a filter to fit most standard housings and even have housings available. Check out our webpage for more information



http://arborfab.com/product-category/hop-back-filters-housings

 

[DC_Steve]

Hey guys, I tried to read through as much as I could to find what I need, but after 30 pages it seemed to still be up in the air and unfortunately can't spend the whole day reading the rest (although I wish I could). I was thinking about getting the 6x14 one to use on my Grainfather electric setup. There is a lot of recirculating going on which can get clogged from hops so I think one of these will be necessary. I was thinking the 300 micron one would be good until I got later into the thread where some were saying that it was too fine and wasn't draining well which therefore meant that the wort probably wasn't getting through the filter during the boil. Do people recommend going with the 400 micron? And now that I see that the last post in this thread was over a year ago, is there another product that people recommend instead?

 

[bovineblitz]

I have a 300 and it gets clogged towards the end of the boil if it's loaded up with a ton of hops. I don't mind and it works really well all around. I think if I were to constantly recirculate I'd go with the bigger diameter.

 

[DC_Steve]

I have a 300 and it gets clogged towards the end of the boil if it's loaded up with a ton of hops. I don't mind and it works really well all around. I think if I were to constantly recirculate I'd go with the bigger diameter.

Thanks!

 

[stonebrewer]

Thanks!

+1 on larger diameter. I have a couple of these and they work well but the smaller diameter one is only good for a couple of ounces of hops. I recirculate through them and that cleans out a lot of hot break and other proteins, which clogs them worse. So I use two, and when one clogs I switch to the other. Recently added a whirlpool device to my kettle so not sure how that is going to play with these...always fun to tinker though!

I have both the 300 and 400 micron and I don't detect much, if any difference. YMMV...

Longer term, I think I am going to get a basket close to the diameter of my BK or MLT, so I can do BIAB with one vessel and use an over the side electric solution.

 

[philipCT]

I have a 6x14 400. I try to use only whole hops, as pellets seem to clog it more. I've brewed 10 gallon big IPAs with large hops additions in the boil without a problem and I usually recirculate after flameout for 15+ minutes.

When I use pellets and it clogs a little, I find that if I just scrape the sides with a big stainless spoon it gets going enough to drain slowly, so I've never had a show stopper.

Once I started using this basket I stopped having any issues or worries about hops in the boil. I could then focus on other areas of the brew that needed obsessing over.

Life is good.