To bag or not to bag? Dry Hopping w/FastFerment Conical Fermentor

[pshankstar]

I'm still a newbie, so please be gentle... :cross: LOL So I purchased the FastFerment Conical Fermentor and brewed an IPA (low on IBUs) that turned out great but it didn't call for dry hopping. I know have the Conundrum Session IPA by Northern Brewer fermenting as I type. Once I move into the secondary fermentation phase (dump ball, not actually move the beer), it says to let it sit in the secondary for one week then dry hop. My questions are:

1. Should I dump the hop pellets into the fermentor and call it a day?
2. Should I place the hop pelets into a sanitized muslin bag? If I do this, should I just let it float or sink? Or should I tie some sanitized dental floss (no flavors) to it so it stays suspended?
3. I plan on kegging this beer once it's complete. So if I just drop the hop pelets in should I strain it with a sanitized muslin bag as I'm filling the keg? Also, has anyone had any problems with hop pelets clogging the fastferment system so you cannot easily move the beer to a keg or bottles? If so, what's your advice?

I've read that if you want a more "hoppy flavor" to throw the hops in without a bag, which is what I would prefer. But if others with a similar setup have had nothing but problems such as clogging the fast ferment system, then I would go the route of bagging the hops.

Thanks in advance as always! I look forward to hearing from the seasoned brewers out there!

 

[brewfarmDan]

I have not just dumped hops in because of cocerns with plugging the dump valve but if hopping after harvesting there is probably no reason for concern if you have a racking valve above the dump valve. I use a hop bag with a heavy shot glass for weight and hang it with fine SS wire that goes between the lid gaskets. I boil anything that goes into the fermentor (hop bags, glass and wire) and then hit it with starsan when I put it in. I hate opening the fermentor and may buy a screen I can hang under the 1.5" vent tri clamp so I can dump them in.

 

[pshankstar]

I have not just dumped hops in because of cocerns with plugging the dump valve but if hopping after harvesting there is probably no reason for concern if you have a racking valve above the dump valve. I use a hop bag with a heavy shot glass for weight and hang it with fine SS wire that goes between the lid gaskets. I boil anything that goes into the fermentor (hop bags, glass and wire) and then hit it with starsan when I put it in. I hate opening the fermentor and may buy a screen I can hang under the 1.5" vent tri clamp so I can dump them in.

I like the idea of using a shot glass for the weight. I will take your suggestion and run with it in 2.5 weeks when the time comes to dry hop my beer!

 

[brewfarmDan]

better option for weight may be SS Ball Bearings/marbles but I don't have any

 

[pshankstar]

better option for weight may be SS Ball Bearings/marbles but I don't have any

I do not have any of them either. I think the shot glass method will have to do in my situation too. Unless I come across some Stainless Steel Ball Bearings... Thanks again Dan!

 

[whovous]

I bought a bunch of SS nuts, bolts and washers from HD. Pretty cheap, and big enough to be easily found when taking them out.

 

[pshankstar]

I bought a bunch of SS nuts, bolts and washers from HD. Pretty cheap, and big enough to be easily found when taking them out.

So you have used them before with no regrets? Stainless Steel is Stainless Steel, so whether it's a nut, bolt, washer or ball bearing it doesn't matter... I'm always at the Blue or Orange store at least once a week! Thanks!

 

[brewfarmDan]

I would be affraid of the threads holding contamination on bolts or nuts The shot glass works fine for me but a nice 1" SS Ball bearing would be better. Stansan is great but a small pot on the stove and 10 minutes you can give your weght and hop bags a good boil right before using

 

[pshankstar]

Good point Dan! I just ordered these Stainless Steel 1" Balls. I think these will do the trick! Thank you both Dan and Whovous!

 

[whovous]

I'm not concerned about contamination surviving the boil and starsan, but those balls are a whole prettier! 2-3 times more expensive, but still not all that expensive in the cosmic scheme of things.