To strain or not to strain that is the question?

[bikebryan]

I realize this thread it a little old, but i thought i would add something. to strain my wort, i just go to the paint department at home depot and buy a 5 gallon paint strainer for like $1, it has an elastic band around the top that fits onto my ferminting bucket. I put the strainer on the bucket pour the wort in, chill it then just pull the strainer out and throw it all in the trash

Bad move.

From what I gather in your post, you are straining your hot wort as you pour it into your primary fermenter, then chilling it. This causes hot-side aeration, which is a bad thing. You don't want to aerate your wort until AFTER you chill it.

 

[gijake1]

the paint strainer is big enough that it goes to the bottom of the bucket, so its no different than just pouring it into the fermenter. I brewed a batch this weekend and cooled it in the brew pot instead of the fermenter so either way it was cool first.

 

[bikebryan]

the paint strainer is big enough that it goes to the bottom of the bucket, so its no different than just pouring it into the fermenter. I brewed a batch this weekend and cooled it in the brew pot instead of the fermenter so either way it was cool first.

It doesn't matter how big or small the strainer is, or whether it sits in the bottom of the bucket. if you pour while the wort is hot, you'll get splashing, sloshing and a lot of hot side aeration, which is bad. Once it's cooled, I'd say go for it, but not while the wort is still hot.

Personall, I use an immersion chiller for a rapid cool down, then siphon to primary using my auto-siphon. Most of the solids stay in the kettle thanks to the anti-sediment tip on the auto-siphon; what makes it into the primary is virtually all left behind when I rack from primary to secondary.

 

[Sir Sudster]

bikebryan, I'm curious , why is hot side aeration bad?

 

[wild]

why is hot side aeration bad?

Mr. Wizard covered HSA and gives a good expanation.

Wild