Straining after boiling

[Big10Seaner]

I'm trying to piece my all grain setup to get going here within the next 2 weeks. I have my MLT figured out, have a pot for sparge water and a 15.5 gallon sanke keggle with pickup tube. I did a partial mash and boiled 7 gallons of wort in the keggle a few weeks ago and everything went well, up until the straining part. I have been going back and forth as to what to choose for straining the trub/hops out of the keggle and from what I've read there isn't one best way to do it. Since I will be using gravity to transfer from keggle to fermenter, what is wrong with simply using a large strainer that fits over the bucket? I know some cold break will get in, but won't whirlfloc clear it up?

 

[skinfiddler]

I use a stainless "scrubbie" at the pick-up tube in the brew kettle (as was suggested here somewhere) and it works very well.

 

[Big10Seaner]

I tried the scrubbie and it failed miserably, probably due to the hop pellets clogging. Do most of you use hop bags for pellets?

 

[Yooper]

I siphon my wort out, with no issues at all. While it chills, the hops sludge and hot break/cold break all kind of fall to the bottom. I stir up the wort with a sanitized spoon (sort of like the whirlpool method others talk about) and let it settle, then use my siphon. If I use a ton of hops, I will strain the end of the wort by pouring through a sanitized strainer.

I wish I had a pickup tube, though- make sure you let us know what you decide to do and how it works!

 

[cheezydemon]

Indeed DON"T filter. I use no other clearing agent (whirlpooling etc.) and my beers sparkle.

The particles clump together with protiens and DROP OUT OF SUSPENSION when they otherwise might not.

At worst, with an IPA with 10 oz of hops in 5 gallons, I use a hop bag when siphoning to secondary or bottling bucket to catch any bits. I rubber band it to the outgoing end of the hose.

 

[kpellicone]

I don't see any problem using a large a strainer. I use a large SS brew pot and dump in the batch through a strainer over a funnel into the fermenter. Works fine and great for aeration! But, as long as you chill your wort fairly quickly, I don't think you have to worry too much about the cold break.

 

[illinibrew04]

I also have a converted sanke. I have found that using the pvc collar hop strainer works great for pellets or whole hops. After that I honestly don't even strain anything out. I use whirlfloc the last 15 minutes and let the break just go into the primary and settle out. It's easier than messing with straining devices, etc. Just my two cents.

 

[Big10Seaner]

With my partial mash, I ended up not filtering the hops and trub and into the fermenter they went. It was my first time dumping hop sludge into a fermenter, but I'll see how it comes out within a few weeks when I keg it. I guess it'll determine if I even need to worry about straining.

 

[thedude123]

I used a grain bag at the end of the auto siphon tube and it worked great.

 

[Big10Seaner]

I don't get to use my cool valve setup if I use an auto siphon!

 

[Piotr]

I siphon my wort out, with no issues at all. While it chills, the hops sludge and hot break/cold break all kind of fall to the bottom. I stir up the wort with a sanitized spoon (sort of like the whirlpool method others talk about) and let it settle, then use my siphon.

I use exactly the same technique, but then I pour the left-overs into tall glasses, let it settle down overnight in the fridge, and recover about half of the wort from it. I can use it for starters or for priming.

 

[skinfiddler]

I tried the scrubbie and it failed miserably, probably due to the hop pellets clogging. Do most of you use hop bags for pellets?

That would be a problem, but I use a lg paint strainer suspended over the the kettle for all hops so there is little or no junk to clog up the the scrubbie .

 

[mccarthy]

i used a nylon grain bag (just a way oversized hop bag) and drained into my funnel with a scrim and it worked great not a bit got in. i also tried putting the bag over the syphons tip to filter before it entered the syphon but that let in too much air and didnt maintain a flow.

 

[iasquith]

I use a peice of fine netting that are used for curtains (viole) i think the name of the material is, pre- sterilized of course kind of rammed in to the fermenter opening along with the hose outlet from the chiller . works well !