BPal75
Well-Known Member
In the latest edition of BYO magazine (or maybe the one before) there is an article on whirlpool hopping, which for those who don't know is when you add hops to the wort after flameout and during your whirlpool. My understanding was that this also occurs before chilling, so that the hops somewhat isomerize while at high temps during the whirlpool.
My concern is that this procedure seems to fly in the face of everything I remember reading about as a new homebrewer, namely that you should try to chill as quickly as possible after the boil to reduce the risk of infection, reduce the risk of hot side aeration, and to get a good cold break to help with chill haze. I've always done it this way and typically only whirlpool after I've already chilled to pitching temps, to try and separate hop debris and trub. But I figure adding hops during my post chill whirlpool defeats the purpose as the temps are too low to get any isomerization.
Can someone help me understand this process better? Is it the case that updated understanding is that the risks of infection or hot side aeration are low enough to not worry about, so a quick chill isn't necessary? What about chill haze?
Thanks in advance.
My concern is that this procedure seems to fly in the face of everything I remember reading about as a new homebrewer, namely that you should try to chill as quickly as possible after the boil to reduce the risk of infection, reduce the risk of hot side aeration, and to get a good cold break to help with chill haze. I've always done it this way and typically only whirlpool after I've already chilled to pitching temps, to try and separate hop debris and trub. But I figure adding hops during my post chill whirlpool defeats the purpose as the temps are too low to get any isomerization.
Can someone help me understand this process better? Is it the case that updated understanding is that the risks of infection or hot side aeration are low enough to not worry about, so a quick chill isn't necessary? What about chill haze?
Thanks in advance.