Trub and Hops

[BrewinMAINEiac]

After finishing the boil using pellet hops, do you transfer the green goo to your fermenter or leave as much out as possible. I am using a keggle for the first time and I had a small clog at the pick up tube and all that broken down hops were left at the bottom....any tips??

 

[unionrdr]

Use a strainer when you pour the wort into the fermenter. Problem solved.

 

[jaycount]

I try to leave it out, methods I've used or considered:

(1) Using a hop bag during the boil, I usually do this but hear that it MAY affect hop utilization, alot of guys say they can't tell a difference, probably one of the best options, still going to have flameout/1 min hops to deal with though.

(2) After chilling, dumping your wort into your fermenter lined with a big (sanitized) strainer bag. Only works if you have a bucket, I did this last weekend with an APA and there was so much trub it clogged the bag and I know I didn't extract all of the wort that I could have. I don't think I would do it like this again.

(3) Siphoning out of the boil kettle with a strainer bag attached to the bottom of your racking cane/auto siphon. I will do this the next time I have a heavier hopped beer.

All in all, I don't know if you really need to leave it out anyways, my first beer I dumped it in and the beer came out bad BUT there were ALOT of other variables at play, I doubt the hops actually caused my off flavors. Some guys on here dont bother separating it and just dump it in.

 

[TotemWolf]

+1 the above post

I bags hops pettles in grain bags so there is lots room for the wort move freely around them. Seems to work great with no hops leftovers in the pot.

Eidt to say:

Or just don't worry about it and do it the way you like.

 

[unionrdr]

I think bagging everything from hops to spices just makes your job as brewer easier. Less cleanup to worry about later.

 

[jaycount]

+1 the above post

I bags hops pettles in grain bags so there is lots room for the wort move freely around them. Seems to work great with no hops leftovers in the pot.

Eidt to say:

Or just don't worry about it and do it the way you like.

This. I think when I start my full boils (my next kit!) I will use my big grain bag, it's pretty much the same as having them directly in the wort I'd say :rockin: Anything with a decent sized 1 min/flameout addition I'll just siphon with a bag over the end of the cane

 

[BrewinMAINEiac]

I just did'nt know if you lost any hop flavors not getting rid of the trub? None of the readings I have looked at tell you to strain or remove spent hops till secondary racking.

 

[jaycount]

Most folks do remove it or prevent it from getting into the primary as much as possible. You won't lose any hop flavors by doing this.

SOME folks suggest that leaving the hops in the primary is bad. This is debatable.

But no, you are not going to lose any hop flavors or bitterness by not allowing the hops to land in the primary.

 

[TotemWolf]

I just did'nt know if you lost any hop flavors not getting rid of the trub? None of the readings I have looked at tell you to strain or remove spent hops till secondary racking.

The only reason I do it is to save time when I harvest the yeast. It helps keep the yeast clean. Otherwise I don't think I would bother with it.