Hop Bag or No Hop Bag?

[MoreBeerEh]

Does it matter if you use a hop bag or not? If not, do you just toss in the hops and leave them? Will that not make the brew too bitter?

[S.F.B.]

I strain them out when I transfer the wort to the fermenter. I don't know what affect leaving them in would have on the flavor. Never wanted to find out either.

[mmmBeer...]

I use pellets, and throw them straight in the brew pot. I also strain when pouring into the fermentor.

[paul84043]

I used to go through the pain of straining into the primary, but quickly decided that it wasn't worth it. It was one of the messiest steps in the process....
I actually began to wonder if I was losing some potential hop presence by NOT leaving it in the primary. I can't see any downside to leaving hops in there, people dry hop in the secondary and leave them for twice the time.
I think you'r biggest concern in the primary is the yeast that's fallen out of suspension and possibly some of the protiens that you transferred from your brew kettle.

I just pour it all in and transfer it off in a week anyway. It's MUCH easier and I have not noticed anything that I would consider to be a negative, or off flavor of any kind.

Oh yeah....hops...I use pellets and only use a bag when I'm making a beer that requires little hop presence (I remove the bag before cooling the wort) , or a beer that has a potential for a big boilover. I hate losing all my hops in a boilover, it seems like they are the first thing to go...

[adbachtell]

I have done a brew with a bag and with out a bag. With the bag it is very easy to remove all the hops. With out the bag I strained them out (Small Headache). I would not put them into the primary unless you want evey bit of hop flavor out of the little buggers. The boil should do the trick. And then I would only leave them in if you plan to rack to a secondary. I have only used loose hops. But I'm sure the pellets do just as well.

[Caffinehog]

A hop bag will do no harm as long as you leave plenty of room for the hops to expand. If you fail to do so, you'll get less alpha out of them, and you may add a dry-hopped type flavor.

[orb]

It all depends what yer up to... for boiling hops use pellets. For last 30 minutes use pellets....for 15 minute steep before moving to primary, use pellets. For dry hopping use steeped pellets (15 minutes minimum to kill bacteria) Non pellets (whole hops) are romantic and quaint but a pain in the $#%@%. Keep it simple. Utililization is better with pellets. Whole hops in a bag are OK if you want to dry hop a cornelious keg and finish it before bacteria takes over (5-7 days), otherwise, stick with pellets. Supposedly, hop flowers are "natuarally anti-bacterial" and,coupled with -PH will prevent bacterial growth.....do you want to take a chance? I don't. 15 years of brewing have never had a bad batch....Jeff