Pellet hop utilization and a paint strainer question

[wedge421]

I have always used a 5 gallon paint strainer hop spider type of setup for my pellet hops and it has always worked out great. But since I have move up to larger kettles the strainer only sits maybe 5-6 inches into the 5 gallon batch. My questions is that as long as all the hops are submerged will the utilization be the same? Or if I just throw in a single nylon bag with hops and tied off into the boil will that be as efficient? Just curious on the best way to use a paint strainer in large kettles.

 

[Bewbzout]

Sorry i cannot answer your question but i usually put mine in a bag.

 

[badhabit]

I bag mine, they typicaly "float" in the top few inches???

 

[krenshaw]

i use a similar setup in my keggle.. i keep a 6" piece of copper pipe at the bottom of the bag to keep it weighted down as far as possible into the boil.. as long as it is under the surface a couple of inches and you have a decent rolling boil then the wort will be mixing itself for the most part..

 

[Ryan_PA]

You know, I have been wondering about this myself. I have to imagine it has some effect on utilization.

 

[badhabit]

I've had folks tell me that the only way to get good hop utlization is to put the hops in the wort unbaged. I use almost all leaf hops and have tried it both ways. If there is a difference I can't tell it. The one thing that I think is important is that there are no dry spots (just like malt) in your hops when you add them. The only time that I think that you could even possibly have a problem with that is in a short durration aroma addition or dry hop. I just make sure that I completely submerge the bag a while to get everything loosened up and soaked.

 

[headbanger]

I've had folks tell me that the only way to get good hop utlization is to put the hops in the wort unbaged. I use almost all leaf hops and have tried it both ways. If there is a difference I can't tell it. The one thing that I think is important is that there are no dry spots (just like malt) in your hops when you add them. The only time that I think that you could even possibly have a problem with that is in a short durration aroma addition or dry hop. I just make sure that I completely submerge the bag a while to get everything loosened up and soaked.

+1, I've also tried it both ways and cannot tell a difference.