What are the techniques for adding hops?

[RMS]

Hey guys,

My history is two extract brews and both did not have hops. I want to experiment now using some hops but I am not sure how. If I use pellets do I just drop an ounce into the wort? And then I see they sell a Stainless Hop Steeper do I need this? Then there are Leaf hops, if I use leaf then do I have to strain the wort as its pored into the fermenter?

 

[Knecht_Rupprecht]

So yes you would just drop the hops in ( leaf or pellet). I am allow and sprinkle because there is an opportunity for boil over if you're not careful.

You don't need a stainless hop catcher. I'd you wanted you could use a mesh bag that they sell at any homebrew shop. I personally would use pellets and try to limit the trub you pour into the fermenter.

 

[biohaz7331]

Most extract kits will come with pellet hops that you just drop into the wort at specific time intervals. So you really did kits that did not have a single ounce of hops? Were they very sweet? I am just asking out of curiosity because I have never seen a kit that did not use some hops.

 

[Frankiesurf]

Most likely pre-hopped LME.

Drop your hops in at the recommended times SLOWLY to avoid a boil over. When transferring to a fermenter, it depends on your fermenter. For a bucket, when I use a lot of hops, I put two five gallon paint strainer bags in the bucket with a strainer on top. this way you catch most of the stuff getting into your bucket.

For a carboy, use an auto siphon with a couple of paint strainer bags wrapped around it. That should keep most of it out of your carboy.

 

[RMS]

@biohaz7331: I may have said kit in error it was really my own kit using LME and some DME; 1 can had hops added and the other did not and yes that one was lacking the bitterness. Actually I am buying that John Q. Adams Marblehead Lager kit tonight!

But I am also going to do another American Ale kit BUT I am going to experiment with different hop varieties and divide the kit to 5-1 gallon glass wine jugs I got hanging around just to get familiar with the different flavors.


Thanks for all the feed back!

 

[beerbeerbeer123]

So yes you would just drop the hops in ( leaf or pellet). I am allow and sprinkle because there is an opportunity for boil over if you're not careful.

You don't need a stainless hop catcher. I'd you wanted you could use a mesh bag that they sell at any homebrew shop. I personally would use pellets and try to limit the trub you pour into the fermenter.

I use muslin bags never had a problem..cheap as dirt too

 

[EDS2K]

Nylon bags for me - last forever (4 years so far). One for grains, one for hops and Irish moss.

Stainless infuser for dry hopping.

 

[RMS]

I use muslin bags never had a problem..cheap as dirt too

This seems like a good idea to me. Are all the muslin bags made from cotton?

 

[beerbeerbeer123]

This seems like a good idea to me. Are all the muslin bags made from cotton?

Yup just plain ol cotton..I rinse them first just to give them a little cleaning..also like eds2k mentioned nylon bags are good too if not better..but i prefer muslins just a preference

 

[unionrdr]

I have muslin hop & grain sacks for this purpose. Hop sacks for pellets & grain sacks for whole leaf hops,since they have a greater volume per the same weight. With my cleaning method,mine look like new 2 years later.

 

[RMS]

...With my cleaning method,mine look like new 2 years later.

Well I just got done making my first full kit with specialty grains and hops! Its the John Q. Adams Marblehead Lager kit. I used two muslin bags for the grains and one for the hops as suggested. I also used the WYEAST 2112 CALIFORNIA LAGER YEAST option and it seemed to work out good I took the pack and slapped it a few times and by the time I was done with the wort the pack of yeast was inflated and good to go.

With this being a Lager kit when should I transfer it to a cooler spot like my cellar? Not sure if it needs to be kinda warm first?

@unionrdr: I turned the muslin bags inside out and wrapped them over a clean dish and placed them in my dish washer, you think this will be OK??

Rob

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah,that trick for thr hop sacks should work ok. Seems to me you'd put it in a cooler spot after FG is reached.