build your own Randal thingy

[Bruno_78]

Ok, we've all read about this thing. And I sort of remember reading about someone building their own. I've got an IPA that I was going to dry hop, but then I thought maybe this would be a better way to go.

How would I go about doing this?

[DreamWeaver]

From what I've heard & expect, Dogfishead is selling this gimmick for $90 to make folks think they are getting some hop flavor/aroma from this inline device that the beer flows thru to give the drinker a hop delight not acheived anywhere else on Gods green earth. Hogwash... IMHO... Think about it. Why not just grab a handful of hops and toss it in your glass? or... maybe a hops necklace to acheive hop bliss while drinking their beer? Maybe ductape/hotglue some hops to your mug and charge you $.50 more for the aroma? I can't fall for the sheep mentallity of newfangled beer devices.

Just my $.02

[fretlessman71]

Actually, I've heard lots of stories about people throwing fresh hops into their beer and raving about the taste. It's really not a gimmick - I saw one down at Avery Brewing in Boulder that had been used, and not 3 minutes after that someone came up who was at the Avery Anniversary Party just 3 days prior talking about the amazing flavor of the Randallized beer. Guess I'm going to have to go and get some fresh hops from the vine over at Ft. C Brewery and try this myself!

Dunno about forking over $90 for one of these... might be able to make one for a lot cheaper, no?

[fretlessman71]

There is also such a beast as "wet hopping"... if you can find fresh hops, use them in place of dried hops and just dump 'em into your secondary. Try it!

[DreamWeaver]

I dunno about hop taste unless you chew on some hop leaves/plugs/pellets. No isomerizing going on with cold wet hops? Don't ya gotta boil them? Hop aroma is all you are going to get. I'll try shoving a hop pellet up my nostril and see if that works. Would be like that jellin commercial. You jellin?/You Randallizin? I see you have one up your nose. I'm a one pellet hopper! :eek:
I don't mean to sound too absurd but this just seems real... Well... sheepish. Lets convince everybody to Randallize... for what? A smell of hops. If your beer is good enough, you don't need any gimmick beer goobers.

Just My $.02. I'm not trying to be neg, just real.

[fretlessman71]

OK, now you've thrown down the gauntlet... I'm heading over that way tomorrow; I'll drop in to try their new "Export" and pick me some hop flowers and try it and let you know what I think. Maybe I'll put them in a strainer and pour my beer through them.

Every broken open a fresh hop flower? They smell FANTASTIC... and you can almost taste them through your nose. My guess is that I'm in for quite a treat!

[Bruno_78]

Actually, (and steveh may have to back me up here) even if all you're getting is a more pronounced hop aroma, it's going to accentuate what you taste as well.

This is all that dry hopping does. You're not boiling these hops for any amount of time. You're not trying to get any bitterness from the hops. Just accentuate.

[DreamWeaver]

hehehe... OK, prove me wrong. You may like the taste or be convinced but I think the hop aroma is best in the beer not in the serving line. LMK.
BTW... I know a guy that puts hops in his morning coffee. :eek:

[fretlessman71]

That's another great idea! Let's both try them in coffee and see what happens, ok?

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
That's another great idea! Let's both try them in coffee and see what happens, ok?

One lump or two?

I know Homebrewers that dry hop in secondary for 2-3 weeks to get the benefits of the aroma. (I'm not a dry hopper anymore) So, I guess this Randallizing would make dry hopping obsolete? Or unproductive at least. (if it worked) If I liked chocolate, cherries, or smoked flavor should I put Hershey's/cherries/or bacon in my serving line? Somebody jump in & help me! Fret is pickin on me!

[fretlessman71]

I'm not picking on you... I think hops in coffee is a great idea - really! I'll try it tomorrow and let you know. If it doesn't work, or tastes like crap, I promise to be honest, ok?

And I really am going to do this with a beer - my guess is the carbonation pulls out all the stuff that makes the difference in the taste.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Actually, I've heard lots of stories about people throwing fresh hops into their beer and raving about the taste. It's really not a gimmick - I saw one down at Avery Brewing in Boulder that had been used, and not 3 minutes after that someone came up who was at the Avery Anniversary Party just 3 days prior talking about the amazing flavor of the Randallized beer. Guess I'm going to have to go and get some fresh hops from the vine over at Ft. C Brewery and try this myself!

Dunno about forking over $90 for one of these... might be able to make one for a lot cheaper, no?

Coopersmiths has a beer now where they put a bag of hops in the glass. I haven't been there to try it yet though:

"Cappy's Hop Top APA
Glacier hops are the featured flavor in this adventurous American Pale Ale. To get the most hop flavor and aroma possible, WE PUT A BAG OF FRESH HOPS IN EACH GLASS! For maximum effect, leave the hop bag in the glass. Glacier hops have a soft floral, mildly citrus and a touch spicy character. Its sure to please the hop lover. Nitrogenated 6.0% ABV."

[gallowd7]

Always being one to experiment and ruin things here's what I would try: Easy: use a French Press (coffee maker) to steep and strain; or more difficult: buy a PVC pipe of your desired diameter, drill a hole in the bottom, add hops, add beer and let it drain out.
I think the french press would be pretty easy, like a single pint pitcher.

[danno]

Bruno, last month's BYO had a how-to article on building your own Randal. However, they priced it out to about $90... it's basically a whole house water filter body with some modifications...

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by DreamWeaver

BTW... I know a guy that puts hops in his morning coffee. :eek: Do me a favor and find out from your friend how much he adds to what - I'm curious!

[dillen]

Any body with some knowledge of plumbing could rig one of these up for under $20. I built mine for about $25, but I bought brand new tubing. Try Home Depot ,and get a water filter it works.

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Do me a favor and find out from your friend how much he adds to what - I'm curious!

He adds 1 hop leaf of Cascades or sometimes 2 Saaz to his mug of Folgers. He warned of not using pellets. Said it gave him green teeth. I tried Fuggles once (cuz I usually use pellets) and thought it was nasty. The aroma was OK but tasted nasty.

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by dillen
Any body with some knowledge of plumbing could rig one of these up for under $20. I built mine for about $25, but I bought brand new tubing. Try Home Depot ,and get a water filter it works.

Lets see it. Do you have a parts list or plans? Is it worth it? Although I don't see one in my future, many are asking.

[chazwicke]

Not to rain on anyones parade but I think it is sold with the understanding that you really are only gonna get more aroma from the oils on the leaves that the beer is being forced through. Not too much more in the taste department.