Post-fermentation bittering

[Bullhog]

So, after trying hopshot for the first time, a lot of it never made it into the wort and instead collected on the bottom of the kettle. Trying the beer in the fermenter leaves me believing it will be grossly unbalanced. So, I've determined that the only way I can increase bitterness post-fermentation is to use Hopshot again to make a superconcentrated bittering tea. My plan is to boil 3-5ml of hopshot in about a liter of water for an hour, put that into a keg, and transfer the finished beer on top. Has anyone tried this or have better sudgestions?

 

[hotbeer]

It's my understanding that the bittering requires the heat of the boil and interaction between the wort and the hop oils. So you won't really be bittering your beer. Even though you are adding some bitter and maybe astringent stuff to it.

I might be wrong. The science behind it I've never really gotten into.

I think you ought to just let it ride as it is and see what it becomes. You might like it. You might not.

And I think that is also likely if you try to correct it now. You might like it. You might not.

Though I actually lean more to the might not like it if you mess with it now. I think your chances are better just leaving it be. May not be the beer you wanted, but it'll be beer you can drink.

 

[Miraculix]

So, after trying hopshot for the first time, a lot of it never made it into the wort and instead collected on the bottom of the kettle. Trying the beer in the fermenter leaves me believing it will be grossly unbalanced. So, I've determined that the only way I can increase bitterness post-fermentation is to use Hopshot again to make a superconcentrated bittering tea. My plan is to boil 3-5ml of hopshot in about a liter of water for an hour, put that into a keg, and transfer the finished beer on top. Has anyone tried this or have better sudgestions?

Yes, this is possible.

You can also make a very concentrated hop tea with just water and hops.

In wort, maximum dissolved ibus is limited by proteins to about 100ibus. This does not apply for water without proteins, so you should be good.

I've tried the hop tea version myself. It works.

 

[day_trippr]

I've tried the hop tea version myself. It works.

I concur, having brought an insipidly under-IBU'd wheat beer back up to snuff with some hop tea, many years ago...

Cheers!

 

[Bullhog]

I think you ought to just let it ride as it is and see what it becomes. You might like it. You might not.

I plan to keg it without adding bittering hops, as I am also using aroma hop oil extract at kegging. The extract might be enough to make the whole situation work, but it adds no bitterness. After tasting it as is, I have a strong feeling I will be upping the IBUs to save this batch. It will be fun to see how it develops.

 

[HM-2]

I typically use isomerised hop extract for bittering post-ferm if I need to push up the IBUs. Always keep a vial of it to tweak as needed. The hop tea approach is the next best thing though.

 

[Bullhog]

I typically use isomerised hop extract for bittering post-ferm if I need to push up the IBUs. Always keep a vial of it to tweak as needed. The hop tea approach is the next best thing though.

Do you know of a good source to get any on the homebrew level? I couldn’t find any.

 

[HM-2]

I can get it via Malt Miller and CrossMyLoof here in the UK. Both Haas and Hopsteiner have options available elsewhere I think.

This is the stuff I use https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/online-store/Hop-Extract-p241775576

 

[Bullhog]

I can get it via Malt Miller and CrossMyLoof here in the UK.

I was afraid your source wouldn’t be in the states. Interesting shop name!