would you keg it?

[bluebarnaclebrewing]

I brewed an IPA and it stabilized at 1.005 (I like them dry) 5 day ago. I added some dry hops at that time.

Question is how long do you guys normally wait until you cold crash and keg? I'm planning to let it force carb over a week or more at 12psi. The hydrometer sample was pretty tasty before I added my dry hops. I know there's no single right answer but looking for some advice or if anyone has packaged an IPA in 12 days with or without success.

 

[Revvy]

I dry hop usually no more than 7 days. Pull a sample and put it in something kind of wide and shallow like a hiball glass where you can get your nose in and smell and taste it. If you like the aroma and flavor go for it.

I just did an Amarillo/Nelson Sauvin were I DH'ed it for 5 days, I kicked a keg early and didn't really want to wait a couple more days for it, so I took a sample, was happy with where it was, and kegged it, and it's tasty. Going to start looking at the 5 day mark in the future especially if I'm planning to have hops in my randall anyway.

 

[Yooper]

I normally dryhop for 5 days, but have gone as short as 3 days with great results. Sometimes things have come up, and I've dryhopped for 7 days, but I like the 5 day dryhop for fresh hops aroma better.

 

[TravelingLight]

I dry hop usually no more than 7 days. Pull a sample and put it in something kind of wide and shallow like a hiball glass where you can get your nose in and smell and taste it. If you like the aroma and flavor go for it.

I just did an Amarillo/Nelson Sauvin were I DH'ed it for 5 days, I kicked a keg early and didn't really want to wait a couple more days for it, so I took a sample, was happy with where it was, and kegged it, and it's tasty. Going to start looking at the 5 day mark in the future especially if I'm planning to have hops in my randall anyway.

Don't want to totally hijack this thread, so I'll add that I typically go 4-5 days, but have gone up to 7 days with no grassy or off flavors.

Now to slightly hijack...Revvy, did you build or buy your randall? I want one but I'm more of a DIY guy so I would like to build one.

 

[bluebarnaclebrewing]

Don't want to totally hijack this thread, so I'll add that I typically go 4-5 days, but have gone up to 7 days with no grassy or off flavors.

Now to slightly hijack...Revvy, did you build or buy your randall? I want one but I'm more of a DIY guy so I would like to build one.

HAHA hijack away!

 

[Homercidal]

I try and do no more than 5. Last time I did maybe 7 or more. I am not sure. It's still young beer, but I think that there was a hint of grassy flavor in there. I'd probably try to stick with 3-5 days.

And of course that was room temperature. I've put dry hops in the keg for much longer without noticing a problem (Or I was just so used to the small change in flavor each day I didn't notice...)

 

[Revvy]

Don't want to totally hijack this thread, so I'll add that I typically go 4-5 days, but have gone up to 7 days with no grassy or off flavors.

Now to slightly hijack...Revvy, did you build or buy your randall? I want one but I'm more of a DIY guy so I would like to build one.

I built mine using a combination of the plans online in byo magazine and one of the threads here.

I leave mine in the keezer, so I decided to go cheap and not get the clear filter housing.

 

[TravelingLight]

I built mine using a combination of the plans online in byo magazine and one of the threads here.

I leave mine in the keezer, so I decided to go cheap and not get the clear filter housing.

Nice. What did you use for the "dip tube" with the holes drilled in it? Looks like plastic, maybe CPVC?

 

[Revvy]

Nice. What did you use for the "dip tube" with the holes drilled in it? Looks like plastic, maybe CPVC?

It's food grade "something." I want to say vinyl (it's stained now from beer and smoked pineapple but it was clear,) I got it at the plumbing supply store where I got the water filter. The guy who was helping me gather the parts (I think he was having fun doing something different) just started press fitting various food grade hoses until something fit.

I'm not entirely thrilled with it, it works fine when I'm careful, but it doesn't always stay on if I don't make sure it's really snug before loading the chamber and closing everything up, plus because the od is so big it takes us a lot of space that could be filled with hops or whatever. At some point I'll find something better. I did see the mesh filter insert for some sort of tea pot or water bottle that I thought might work better.

 

[Natdavis777]

I usually shoot for 7 days. Only time I go beyond that is a double dry hop for my Pliney clone. I have a Zombie Dust clone that was dryhopped @ day 4 after pitching (English yeast is a beast) and dry hopped for 7 days, crashed and gelatined for 3, then kegged. so 2 weeks in the fermentor then kegged. Tastes awesome after a week on the gas, but has a huge aroma and great flavor.

You can keg hoppy beers young, but the flavor can be dependent on age. It may be green the first week, but succulent the next. Only time will tell.

 

[Sammy86]

Here's what I've done and had some success...DH for three days cold crash with hops in there for 48 hours and then keg...I get a really nice nose on the beers and haven't had any complaints from friends or family thus far