Hop sock

[Saint-Thomas]

I am just not happy with the utilization of the hops bags in the boil. Also, I don't like to have 6 different bags if I'm doing several additions, nor do I like the idea of messing with opening a hot one up and trying to add hops. Last night I added directly to the wort, then I tried to do the whirlpool thing and put a nylon bag on the end of my racking cane (which is actually an autosiphon.) It was most unsatisfactory and I ended up pouring the wort through a strainer which took forever.

I could swear I have seen a product that is a nylon bag of sorts with a rigid opening that you suspend just above the boil, and you can add your hops to it continiuously. Since I have a wide kettle, my boil level tends to be low. Furthermore, I can't drill a hole in it because it is on loan from the US Army. So I want to try this big hop bag idea, but I can't find where I saw it for sale. I tried a couple of websties, and I thought for certain I would find it at morebeer or northernbrewer.

Anyone have an idea what this product is called, or pehaps a better suggestion to filter out pellet hops? Thanks.

[Red T]

Saint Thomas,
I think that you may try to adjust your proceedure. I did simular things as you mentioned when I first started. Since then I changed a few things. Like you said, whirlpool. I add hop pellets directly to my kettle too. Once I have my wort cooled, I whirlpool and wait for a little while. All the time with the kettle covered! Don't want to contaminate at this point in the stage. Then once the whirlpool action has subsided, siphon to your fermenter. Yes a little of the trub will be "sucked in" but a simple racking to secondary will clear up your beer. That alone will leave behind a lot of sediment. This has helped me clear up my beer, with out having to make another purchase.

[corkybstewart]

If you're not happy with hops utilization this hop sock won't help. It's functions just like a hops bag but more convienent. Throw thos pellets directly into the kettle and whirlpool. You can find stainless steel lint traps that you can attach to the end of the racking cane to keep most of the debris out. And it really won't hurt to get that stuff in the fermenter. I use a CFC and I pick up a lot of crap. It settles to the botom of the fermenter and does no harm.

[Saint-Thomas]

Red, Thanks for the encouragement. I was sure I was already on the right track, but I just need to be a little more patient with the process. I also tend to get a little upset about the wort left behind (I know, I know.... RDWHAHB :D )

Corky, I used to not care about hops trub, but lately I've been obsessed with keeping it out. It just seems to make subsequent processes easier and neater. I re-use the yeast cakes, or at least harvest some and farm them up. I would rather not have to wash the yeast, since my practices are very sanitary and the yeast doesn't sit around for more than a few weeks, I'd just like to skip that step.

My concern is the hops trub getting from one batch to the next, if I make different beers. For example, the Get Real ESB just got racked off to clarify, and I put an IPA on top of the yeast. When that's done, I plan on putting a stout in there, but the IBU's are WAY less. Then I might make another pale beer with the same yeast (although at that point I may give up on it.) I just don't get a good feeling about leaving all that trub in from one beer to the next. So I try to keep it out altogether.

Thanks for the opinion on the big hops bag. I wondered if it would be any better, and now I know.

[HogieWan]

the hops left in the trub won't affect the flavor in subsequent beers

[trunk]

I have been using some fine mesh grain size nylon bags I found with elastic tops for my hops. They are about 18"x12". The elastic top fits nicely around the top of my 5 gallon kettle leaving a big open space to access the wort. Maybe a bad analogy but its like a trash bag lining a can. Its basically adding the hop pellets directly to the wort but when the boil is done, I just pull the bag out with the hops. Also all the hop additions come out at the end in one bag so less to clean up. Has been working well for me.

[Saint-Thomas]

Trunk, this is sort of the idea I was going for. I think the bigger bag you use is even better. I have a large nylon grain bag, but it won't go accross the lip of my kettle. Yours came with elastic sewn in? Do you have a link to where you got it? I would like to try something like this.