Non-messy way to dry-hop in a carboy...ideas?

[Gritsak]

I want to avoid dumping the hops directly into the beer, so in the past i've used nylon bags with glass beads to weigh it down. Only problem is the hop pellets expand and it's a PITA to get out of the carboy.

I was thinking of finding/fabbing some type of "cylinder" made from plastic or SS that was just smaller in diameter than the carboy neck, but has firm sides so i can just lift it out when i'm ready. Possible using a solid tube and cutting out sections or drilling lots of holes in it, then line it with a nylon bag. This would prevent it from expanding, but allow flow of liquid to the hops. Another advantage of this would be to have the ability to press all the beer adsorbed into the hops back into the carboy before kegging/bottling.

Anyone made something like this before?

 

[samc]

Thought of this but decided it would restrict the hops too much. Unlike a boil kettle the wort is not really moving around so I think you limit the hop usage somewhat. Your better off dry hopping in a different vessel (keg?), which is what I do now.

 

[r2eng]

I DH in a keg: Use a cheese-cloth bag and whole leaf hops. I weigh it down with a couple of shot glasses, and transfer with CO2.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Well, I use a piece of straining bag that I cut to 1.5 inches wide and 6 inches long. I had the wife sew it all around to make a hop "cylinder" like what you mentioned. I just sew a length of thread through it to hang in the carboy.

Sorry, no pics.

Even when "expanded" it's slim enough to pull out of the carboy...

 

[BearNP]

I have seen another product like this one (very similar to this design, but narrow enough to fit in carboy) that hangs in the middle of the carboy. Sorry, cannot seem to find it on the web or in my Zymurgy magazine, maybe it was in BYO's magazine? Seems like the hops would have pretty good exposure to the beer, if hung all the way down to the beer from the top of the carboy.

Here is a link to the product. I have no financial interest in Midwest, just the place that first came up with the item on google search.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4497

 

[homebrewer_99]

Bear...that product is used inside a keg...not what one would need for hop pellets.

 

[Hang Glider]

A little more pricey than the bazooka screen, but is this more like what you're looking for?

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/brewing-equipment/stirring-straining/the-brew-infuser.html

 

[Gritsak]

Thanks for the replies. Something like the brew-infuser is what i had in mind. Maybe i will case Menards for something similar...a braided SS supply hose like people use to batch sparge should work (I think that's what the bazooka screen is anyway).

I considered the issue of restricting the flow between beer/hops..but gently lifting up and down on the tube (like when using a teabag) for the first couple days should help with that.

 

[BearNP]

homebrewer _99, correct that is designed for the keg...the link from HangGlider was what I was trying to find & what I originally had in mind.

 

[homebrewer_99]

homebrewer _99, correct that is designed for the keg...the link from HangGlider was what I was trying to find & what I originally had in mind.

It is similar to what I made out of a nylon screen. Place a couple of marbles in it then the pellets and it works.

 

[Orogenic]

I use a simple hop sock with glass marbles. Just boil up some water throw in the hop sock with the marbles. Let it cool. Throw in the hops (full leaf), tie a not in the sock, and drop in.

I use this method both in the keg and in the secondary, depending on the amount of aroma and impact to flavor I want. Subtle is probably earlier in the secondary after fermentation. While strong is probably later in the keg during conditioning.