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

[Shenanigans]

I use nylon hop socks/bags for all parts of the process.
Wasted too much time with clogged filters in the past.
I have a hop spider but haven't used it until now.

 

[mac_1103]

The used Blichmann G1 that I picked up a few months ago came with a hop blocker. I've only used the kettle a couple of times and haven't tried the blocker yet, but I guess I'm kind of obligated to give it a shot at some point.

 

[Bobby_M]

The only reason I would contain is if I used a plate chiller. All other cases, free ballin with a whirlpool and settle to avoid draining them to the fermenter.

 

[Bramling Cross]

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

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Cheers!

Same here. I've tried everything and I can't say enough good things about the HopStopper 2.0. It's an incredible piece of kit.

 

[ClaudiusB]

I dump the hops into the boil kettle, and after the boil, the wort is pumped into the whirlpool tank.

 

[bwible]

I have a hop spider like this one. I tried it for a bit and all my beers were underhopped. Tried increasing hops. It didn’t seem to work well. This is in small batches, I make 3 gallon batches in a 5 gallon brewpot. I mostly use it now as a filter when I’m draining the mash tun to collect those little bits. I just put hops in loose.

 

[bwible]

I have Anvil stuff. I bought one of these kettle strainers when I got my 5 gallon pot. I had zero luck with it. Clogged every time and not with ridiculous amounts of hops like some double ipa recipe or anything. Anvil doesn’t sell a 5 gallon brewpot anymore, 7.5 gallons is their smallest. It looks like they don’t have the kettle strainer on their site anymore either. I see some hanging out there on morebeer and various hardware sites. I love their kettle, do not recommend this strainer.

 

[mac_1103]

I've tried everything and I can't say enough good things about the HopStopper 2.0. It's an incredible piece of kit.

Too bad they don't make them anymore.

 

[Bramling Cross]

The used Blichmann G1 that I picked up a few months ago came with a hop blocker. I've only used the kettle a couple of times and haven't tried the blocker yet, but I guess I'm kind of obligated to give it a shot at some point.

If it's anything like the SS Brewtech hop blocker, don't expect miracles. I was very disappointed with my SS's blocker. If you look inside the kettle after racking, it clearly does something. Then you look at the wort in the fermenter and realize it doesn't do enough. It's kinda like old style lap only seatbelts: they're certainly better than nothing, but that's about it.

Blichmann makes great stuff, so I'm sure their version will comfortably outperform the SS Brewtech version.

 

[LokiM4]

I have a hop spider like this one. I tried it for a bit and all my beers were underhopped. Tried increasing hops. It didn’t seem to work well. This is in small batches, I make 3 gallon batches in a 5 gallon brewpot. I mostly use it now as a filter when I’m draining the mash tun to collect those little bits. I just put hops in loose.

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I have the huge Anvil version. First beer I made with it seems more hoppy than intended actually.

I think if the spider is big enough, it’s effective. I can definitely see how smaller ones and the bags/socks limit wort contact and utilization.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I have the huge Anvil version. First beer I made with it seems more hoppy than intended actually.

I think if the spider is big enough, it’s effective. I can definitely see how smaller ones and the bags/socks limit wort contact and utilization.

I use a large one too. I don’t know the brand, I picked it up unused from a guy getting out of brewing. The mesh is somewhat open, and a portion of the hop fines go right through it. However, I like using it because it does allow me to withdraw a portion of the hops from the kettle before draining, seems to lessen the chance of a boil over at hop additions, and gives me a place to momentarily place my stirring spoon when I need to pickup something else.