Dry Hopping With Pellets - In PB

[Addled Jim]

Folks,

About to keg a brew which will be drank at a upcoming family party - thought I might dry hop in a bag some pellets but now undecided - Ive not done this before only used leaf

Will they break down considerably and leave the bag and make the beer cloudy - I will have to drive the barrel to the party so it will be agitated along the way?

Cheers

[guypettigrew]

The one time I tried dropping hop pellets in a keg it worked out fine. Like you I was worried there would be lots of little bits floating in the beer, but there weren't.

I added the pellets at the same time as the finings, I use auxiliary finings and Isinglass. Perhaps the finings held the pellet particles down.

Guy

[Addled Jim]

thanks Guy, Im erring towards leaving them out now - I will have a go next time I dust off the PB's (probs at xmas) - I don't want people moaning about cloudy/hazy beer at the party

[Kev888]

Within reason they shouldn't be a big problem, most escaped particles will settle out reasonably well. Though unless you rack it they can be stirred up again, and also the hops can still add a little cloudiness irrespective of noticeable particles.

So it kind of depends; possibly a special occasion isn't the best time to try something new. But worth trying out in time for future events.

[WalesAles]

Folks,

About to keg a brew which will be drank at a upcoming family party

I will have to drive the barrel to the party so it will be agitated along the way

Cheers

Jim,
When is the Party?
If the barrel is agitated, tell it to calm down, soothe it, play car reg games with it, etc

WA

[Normski]

Depending on what beer this is.
A little Hop Oil might work well.

[john luc]

You could dry hop for 3 to 5 days in the bag and remove it 24 hours before you travel. You could also make a hop tea and add that instead.

[Robwalkeragain]

I’d say no, pellets turn to sludge and leaf are much easier to filter out as they’ll form a natural filter in the beer. Block the tap with pellet sludge and you’re buggered.

[Midlife]

I find the best way to deal with pellets dry hopping is to crash cool. This seems the best method, certainly for me, that ensures the racked beer is clear and free of hops/debris.

[jubby]

I find the best way to deal with pellets dry hopping is to crash cool. This seems the best method, certainly for me, that ensures the racked beer is clear and free of hops/debris.

+1 for this method. I add the dry pellets to the fermenter after about 5-7 days, leave it at fermenting temp for another 5 days and then cool it to around 2C for 3 days before transferring to a keg.