Poor man's hop bong

[kohalajohn]

While I"m not full on lodo yet, I do like the idea of keeping the atmosphere out of my beer.

Hop bongs are pricey. And they don't help you introduce liquids, just hops.

I ordered a keg lid with a 1.5 inch tri clover top. The idea is that I use this lid on my fermenting keg. When it is time to add finishing hops, gelatin, I put co2 pressure in the keg, release the lid, and while co2 is flowing upward, I drop into the upward gas flow, my hops, gelatin, pmb, whatever.

I'm sure this has been done by tons of folk before. But its a new idea to me.

Photo below.

Ideas, thoughts?

 

[Deadalus]

Just buy one of these. If I had a 2" port, I'd go with the 2" model. It's the all SS ones that are expensive.

 

[Deadalus]

Just buy one of these. If I had a 2" port, I'd go with the 2" model. It's the all SS ones that are expensive.

That one is out of stock I noticed and doesn't have the prv on the top that you would need extra. Bobby explains how to do it without the prv in the description but there's a cheap one that goes on the top. The whole thing is a Kegland product.

 

[kohalajohn]

Very interesting, thanks

 

[Broken Crow]

You could take a look at @BongoYodeler 's :
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/keg-fermenting.733781/page-2#post-10422596
Sounds like it worked out.

 

[BongoYodeler]

You could take a look at @BongoYodeler 's :
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/keg-fermenting.733781/page-2#post-10422596
Sounds like it worked out.

Thanks. It has indeed worked out. I've only been brewing for a few years but until implementing the hop bong I largely steered clear of pale ales and ipa's because with my setup I was unable to dry hop without introducing oxygen. The hop bong has been a game-changer for me as my beers no longer see oxygen from going into the fermenter until I pull my first pint from the keezer. I currently have a small amount left of a neipa that I brewed 4/21 and kegged 5/7. It's looking and tasting the same to me as it did shortly after kegging.

Enjoyed two days ago, kegged May 7th.

 

[kohalajohn]

I put that bong unit on my wish list.

But in the meantime, my question is this:

Some folk are just using positive pressure when adding items on the cold side. Wouldn't that be enough?

While a bong looks cool and fun, positive pressure is effectively used in labs to keep outside things from ingress.

@BongoYodeler certainly has an effective system.

But there are more than just hops that I need to add on the cold side, like SMB and liquid gelatin. I don't think a bong would work for that?

 

[BongoYodeler]

I put that bong unit on my wish list.

But in the meantime, my question is this:

Some folk are just using positive pressure when adding items on the cold side. Wouldn't that be enough?

While a bong looks cool and fun, positive pressure is effectively used in labs to keep outside things from ingress.

@BongoYodeler certainly has an effective system.

But there are more than just hops that I need to add on the cold side, like SMB and liquid gelatin. I don't think a bong would work for that?

I only use the hop bong for hop pellets. When adding gelatin, Biofine, or other liquids I use this method. Quick and simple.

 

[mac_1103]

positive pressure is effectively used in labs to keep outside things from ingress

Not gasses.

 

[kohalajohn]

I only use the hop bong for hop pellets. When adding gelatin, Biofine, or other liquids I use this method. Quick and simple.

Very nice. I am going to build one of those

 

[Deadalus]

I put that bong unit on my wish list.

But in the meantime, my question is this:

Some folk are just using positive pressure when adding items on the cold side. Wouldn't that be enough?

While a bong looks cool and fun, positive pressure is effectively used in labs to keep outside things from ingress.

@BongoYodeler certainly has an effective system.

But there are more than just hops that I need to add on the cold side, like SMB and liquid gelatin. I don't think a bong would work for that?

I haven't added liquids with mine. The hop bong could be used until the liquid volume reached the "bowl" of the bong. If the gas port was situated at the "bowl" maybe ok to avoid liquid in the gas line if the line is pressurized (or a check valve in place). However, you'd already have the red post from the hop bong if you have one and you could just screw it on to the bottle contraption shown in that video. You can also buy the hop bong parts separately but would only save a couple of bucks and maybe not even that with shipping and ordering from different places.

As far as hops, not using the bong, you will likely need multiple fills of the TC opening when dry hopping. Particularly for NEIPAs. Or a hopper.

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

Fwiw, before I built my dry hopping doodad, my neipas would oxidize less than 30% of the time, in fact maybe 1 a year, and I brew them regularly, that was basically doing as the op mentioned with positive co2 pressure flowing while dumping hops into a tc port, only it was on a conical.. anyhow since I built said hopping doodad (similar to the bong device) I haven't had a single problem with oxidation. (Knock on wood) so sure, it helps to use positive co2 pressure then purge afterwards, but it will not eliminate o2 exposure.

 

[kohalajohn]

Fwiw, before I built my dry hopping doodad, my neipas would oxidize less than 30% of the time, in fact maybe 1 a year, and I brew them regularly, that was basically doing as the op mentioned with positive co2 pressure flowing while dumping hops into a tc port, only it was on a conical.. anyhow since I built said hopping doodad (similar to the bong device) I haven't had a single problem with oxidation. (Knock on wood) so sure, it helps to use positive co2 pressure then purge afterwards, but it will not eliminate o2 exposure.

Yes, it’s starting to look like the bong is the preferred route. Plus the pet bottle for liquids.

One member did mention a hopper. I can see how that would be better than just the tc opening. A large funnel holding a large volume of gas which is overflowing. Slowly submerge the hops or campden tablets into it.

But now I’m building a device. May as well just build a bong. And one that works 100% of the time, not 80% of the time.

Interesting that there is now forum just for lodo.