whats the consensus on spider vs bag vs commando for hop additions?

[fluketamer]

i noticed a decrease in bitterness and flavor when i switched from bag to spider. is the best solution commando and whirlpool?

how do you like to add your hops to the boil?

thanks for any replies.

 

[Broken Crow]

For pellets I go commando, but always with a large kettle-filter. I haven't used whole hops because I'm worried I'd plug my filter.

 

[scrap iron]

Commando here both pellet and whole with a false bottom in the BK.
I don't worry about them in the fermenter because I pump the wort into a bottling bucket.
I then let it settle out in the ferm. fridge while I'm getting the yeast ready. About an hour later I carefully drain to the fermenter leaving a lot of break and the hops that settle to the bottom behind.

 

[day_trippr]

I went through the paint strainer bags through the 6x20" SS spider and ended up commando - with a Hop Stopper V2...

Cheers!

 

[mashdar]

I tried a hop spider, but it always seemed to clog or not get good mixing. I still use it for other purposes, but I've moved to oversized (12"x6" ~) nylon bags for hops. I still get a lot of gunk outside the bag, though.

 

[BongoYodeler]

I go commando, and really don't have a good way to whirlpool. So at the end of cooling down I just use my IC to create a whirlpool prior to removing it. I then let the wort sit in the kettle, covered, for 30 minutes or so and most of the hop debris settles below the valve.

 

[kevin58]

I hate, hate, hate cleaning up hop trub so I use a spider. There is probably some lost isomerization but I compensate by adding about 10- 20% more hops.

 

[redrocker652002]

I use a hop bag. My kettle came with a false bottom I am going to try and see if I can reduce the amount of "stuff" clogging up my banjo screen.

 

[hotbeer]

Up until recently, I always have just added the hop pellets straight to the boil. Of the last four brews, I used hop bags three times. The last batch I forgot. I haven't noticed a difference, but the last batch wasn't the same style beer as the other three.

What doesn't fall out with the cold break gets put in the FV. Though I haven't had good cold breaks on the last several beers and just chucked everything into the FV. I only use a large stock pot to boil. No pumps, false bottoms or anything to clog with the hop matter.

I guess I'll have to do some comparisons and see if I can notice.

 

[mac_1103]

Hop Stopper V2...

Sadly no longer made.

 

[day_trippr]

Yeah, found that out the last time there was a thread like this one...

 

[G_robertus]

I used to do commando before switching to a larger system. That system came with a (tiny) bazooka filter that clogged up constantly, so I switched to bags. Noticed my bitterness was off in quite a few brews so I went back to commando and I added a bend to my spigot. Now with a whirlpool I'm usually safe. There is some debris during transfer, but I don't really care about that. Bitterness is much better nowadays.

 

[Spartan1979]

Sadly no longer made.

I'm sorry to hear that. I had been thinking about trying one but that decision has been made for me.

 

[Tony B]

I have a very simple set up, but kept running into clogging issues going commando. I tried bags for a while but didn’t seem to get enough IBU or hop flavor/aroma. I finally settled on a spider using a long skinny spoon to agitate and keep the hops moving into the wort from FWH- hopstand. I also use a stainless mesh container for DH and just occasionally agitate the FV. I may go try commando DH in a future batch, as I’m using an all rounder and transfer via floating dip tube with a mesh filter.

 

[MaxStout]

I hate, hate, hate cleaning up hop trub so I use a spider. There is probably some lost isomerization but I compensate by adding about 10- 20% more hops.

Same here. I bump up my hops bill about 20% to compensate for lower utilization. During the boil I stir the hops inside the bag every few minutes using a long handled spoon to increase contact.

 

[passedpawn]

Hop spider. I've done all the methods with some success, but hop spider is just too easy.

 

[Dog House Brew]

I’ve made several versions of spiders. My last one is 10” in diameter (30x30 mesh?). It allowed the wort to boil up through it better. I use a CFC so I made it tall enough to drop into the kettle when I lid it. It’s tall enough to reach above my volume. Clean up is so much easier and I really don’t see much of a difference. When my first version was much smaller in diameter, I had utilization issues.

 

[hottpeper13]

For me it depends on the amount of hops. Most brews use 3 oz or less and I use the spider. The ones that go over get commando. Since I use a pencil and the rubber back button I just adjust the utilization number.

 

[Miraculix]

What does commando mean in the hop context?!

 

[hottpeper13]

Free balling! No containment

 

[mac_1103]

What does commando mean in the hop context?!

Dumped in. Swimming free. Naked. No protection.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I used to use a fine mesh spider/container just free floating around in the kettle. It was a little aggravating fishing it out so I could get my chiller in the kettle properly, but I endured it until the thin, stainless lid cracked. I ended up with a spider that hooks on the side of the kettle. It has a more open mesh, so some hops debris gets into the kettle anyway.
Now, I just use my spoon to stir up a whirlpool at the end of chilling and give it a few minutes to settle.
My last batch was my first run with the kegmenter. Below is a picture of draining the boil kettle into the kegmenter. I put a paint filter over a large funnel; the funnel having a very fine mesh filter screen inside it. The paint filter caught most all of the solids, with the funnel filter catching the very little that got past the paint filter. There was also a decent little cone left in the bottom of the kettle.

 

[Broken Crow]

For those who miss the Hop Stopper, this is a surprisingly easy thing to make:
(I haven't vetted these links..they're just a quick search)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3139358860...fyDlVYYjCTRRoiapsuGdmYPwSg==|tkp:BFBM7qCesr9k
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2254078425...rm1cHr6VepHTmYrQx3DckvvEkA==|tkp:BFBM4remsr9k

 

[Willy]

I go commando on my hops - they skinny dip and frolic like bitter mermaids. Then, end of boil - 10 minutes to go ... I begin whirlpooling and toss in a whirlfloc tablet. Cool to 170 and hold... Turn whirlpool off, begin chiller coil recirc, and relax... When it is cool enough - pump it into the fermenter and let it settle in the big cone at the bottom.

Hops like to be wild and free and "put out" more if unrestrained. Hahaha

 

[shoengine]

Commando, then whirlpool, then this:

 

[Snuffy]

For me it depends on the amount of hops. Most brews use 3 oz or less and I use the spider. The ones that go over get commando. Since I use a pencil and the rubber back button I just adjust the utilization number.

I go almost exactly opposite this. 2 oz or less I toss em in. Over 2 oz I use the spider. I stir and dip/drain the spider several times during boil and notice no difference in bitterness. Big difference in filter sludge and pump flow tho.

 

[bike2brew]

Lot's of traffic on this thread. I had to switch to little bags from my hop spider once I began using the steam condenser lid on my svbs. Just unwilling to flush all the hop trub through the recirculation manifold. The bags are easier to clean up as they are disposable.

 

[crazyjake19]

In the kettle, they go in loose. Better hop utilization. If I dry hop in the keg, they go in a bag.

 

[DuncB]

Not a great example as only a tiny hop addition in my Tafelbier. But I just throw the pellets in and rely on the whirlpool and home made trubtrap.

 

[fluketamer]

thanks for all the replies. yesterday i threw in the hops commando and the bazzooka filter at the bottom of the kettle didnt clog. that was my biggest fear. it was 3 ounces in the recipe. i think i could prolly get away with a few more ounces without a problem. i will not use the spider again. it clogs and requires cleaning a lot and i have a feeling this will give me more flavor.