Dry Hopping in the Keg
Dry Hopping in the Keg
So, I'm preparing for my third go at kegging and as ever I'm looking to add something to the process.
Last time I managed a closed transfer and the results were fantastic.
This time I want to do my second dry hop directly inside the keg. For the purpose of improving aroma further - and just out of interest.
My process is to fill the keg with sanitiser and then push it out with Co2. This leaves a nice Oxygen Free Keg.
It's at this point that I would add the dry hops into the keg.
I assume I'd need to disconnect the gas.
Then would i need to pull the pressure release valve before opening the keg lid? if so, does this defeat the object?
Or could I safely open the lid at this point?
Any help would be gratefully received as always.
Many thanks
Ben
Last time I managed a closed transfer and the results were fantastic.
This time I want to do my second dry hop directly inside the keg. For the purpose of improving aroma further - and just out of interest.
My process is to fill the keg with sanitiser and then push it out with Co2. This leaves a nice Oxygen Free Keg.
It's at this point that I would add the dry hops into the keg.
I assume I'd need to disconnect the gas.
Then would i need to pull the pressure release valve before opening the keg lid? if so, does this defeat the object?
Or could I safely open the lid at this point?
Any help would be gratefully received as always.
Many thanks
Ben
-
- Even further under the Table
- Posts: 2653
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
- Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
Hi Ben
Are you using Corny's? Don't really understand your post. Why fill the keg with sanitiser? I use King Kegs and pour a bit of sanitiser in and shake it round well.
Also, I'm not sure filling the keg with CO2 makes much difference. Whenever I've done a brewery visit the beer is just run straight into an open keg.
My routine for dry hopping in the keg is to put the hops (perhaps 50g) into the keg after the sanitiser has been poured out, run the beer from the FV into the keg, add auxiliary finings, cap the keg and gently swirl the contents by picking the keg up and rotating it. This generates CO2. I then gently release the cap. Next step is to add Isinglass and swirl again.
Gives me clear beer in 24/48 hours.
To stop the whole hops fouling the back of the tap I use one of these. If you're using a Corny then something else will be needed.
Guy
Are you using Corny's? Don't really understand your post. Why fill the keg with sanitiser? I use King Kegs and pour a bit of sanitiser in and shake it round well.
Also, I'm not sure filling the keg with CO2 makes much difference. Whenever I've done a brewery visit the beer is just run straight into an open keg.
My routine for dry hopping in the keg is to put the hops (perhaps 50g) into the keg after the sanitiser has been poured out, run the beer from the FV into the keg, add auxiliary finings, cap the keg and gently swirl the contents by picking the keg up and rotating it. This generates CO2. I then gently release the cap. Next step is to add Isinglass and swirl again.
Gives me clear beer in 24/48 hours.
To stop the whole hops fouling the back of the tap I use one of these. If you're using a Corny then something else will be needed.
Guy
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
Yeah its a cornelius keg.guypettigrew wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:13 pmHi Ben
Are you using Corny's? Don't really understand your post. Why fill the keg with sanitiser? I use King Kegs and pour a bit of sanitiser in and shake it round well.
Also, I'm not sure filling the keg with CO2 makes much difference. Whenever I've done a brewery visit the beer is just run straight into an open keg.
My routine for dry hopping in the keg is to put the hops (perhaps 50g) into the keg after the sanitiser has been poured out, run the beer from the FV into the keg, add auxiliary finings, cap the keg and gently swirl the contents by picking the keg up and rotating it. This generates CO2. I then gently release the cap. Next step is to add Isinglass and swirl again.
Gives me clear beer in 24/48 hours.
To stop the whole hops fouling the back of the tap I use one of these. If you're using a Corny then something else will be needed.
Guy
For the heavily hopped NEIPA's oxygen can be extremely detrimental - first hand experience so the filling with sanistiser and pushing out with Co2 is extremely effective. I feel confident with the process up until this point. It's the next step that i'm unsure of.
Thanks for the tip about the tea strainer - I have one of these that i was planning on using - similar concept.
- Jocky
- Even further under the Table
- Posts: 2738
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:50 pm
- Location: Epsom, Surrey, UK
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
Once the keg is purged I briefly take off the lid and drop the hops in quickly. There’s not a lot of oxygen pick up in that time.
If you’ve already filled the keg then you’ll need to turn off or disconnect the gas, pull the prv to depressurise it and then you can remove the lid. Do it quickly and things will be ok. I tend to leave the gas connected and blow in CO2 at a low pressure while doing this. When the lid is back in place I pressurise and then pull the prv a couple of times.
If you’ve already filled the keg then you’ll need to turn off or disconnect the gas, pull the prv to depressurise it and then you can remove the lid. Do it quickly and things will be ok. I tend to leave the gas connected and blow in CO2 at a low pressure while doing this. When the lid is back in place I pressurise and then pull the prv a couple of times.
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
Dry Hopping in the Keg
I drop in the hops and purge through the dip tube. Pretty sure very little 02 will be left.
Sabro Single Hop NEIPA 25/02/20 CLICK ME to monitor progress with Brewfather & iSpindel
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
Thanks Jocky - so just to make sure i'm following:Jocky wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:14 pmOnce the keg is purged I briefly take off the lid and drop the hops in quickly. There’s not a lot of oxygen pick up in that time.
If you’ve already filled the keg then you’ll need to turn off or disconnect the gas, pull the prv to depressurise it and then you can remove the lid. Do it quickly and things will be ok. I tend to leave the gas connected and blow in CO2 at a low pressure while doing this. When the lid is back in place I pressurise and then pull the prv a couple of times.
1. Purge Empty Keg
2. Remove Lid Briefly (at this point can I remove the lid with the gas still connected?)
3. Drop in Hops
4. Put lid back on
I have a bit of a fear of the unknown here. Worried about safety
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
my thoughts
1. purge empty keg (I simply release CO2 via the PRV). Shut off gas.
2. release pressure and remove lid
3. drop in hops
4. put lid back on and purge (just to on the safe side)
5. fill keg (not sure of your process here)
1. purge empty keg (I simply release CO2 via the PRV). Shut off gas.
2. release pressure and remove lid
3. drop in hops
4. put lid back on and purge (just to on the safe side)
5. fill keg (not sure of your process here)
- Jocky
- Even further under the Table
- Posts: 2738
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:50 pm
- Location: Epsom, Surrey, UK
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
That’s mostly it. A few extra details:benchharp wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:55 pmThanks Jocky - so just to make sure i'm following:Jocky wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:14 pmOnce the keg is purged I briefly take off the lid and drop the hops in quickly. There’s not a lot of oxygen pick up in that time.
If you’ve already filled the keg then you’ll need to turn off or disconnect the gas, pull the prv to depressurise it and then you can remove the lid. Do it quickly and things will be ok. I tend to leave the gas connected and blow in CO2 at a low pressure while doing this. When the lid is back in place I pressurise and then pull the prv a couple of times.
1. Purge Empty Keg
2. Remove Lid Briefly (at this point can I remove the lid with the gas still connected?)
3. Drop in Hops
4. Put lid back on
I have a bit of a fear of the unknown here. Worried about safety
1. Liquid purge empty keg. i.e. fill with Starsan and push out with CO2. You don’t need to do this for all beers, but I do for hoppy ones.
The alternative is to pressurise the keg a few times and release it via the PRV. In this case you’re diluting the oxygen in the keg but not entirely removing it.
2. Turn off gas. Pull pressure relief valve to depressurise keg. Remove lid.
You can’t remove the lid of a pressurised corny keg, so it’s difficult to do something unsafe.
Side note: Commercial (Sankey) kegs are a different beast and are dangerous to open while pressurised.
3. Drop in hops. You can optionally turn on the gas again at a low pressure while doing this and it should ensure no Oxygen gets in.
4. Replace lid, repressurise keg.
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
It makes no sense to me going through the process of purging with liquid...then taking the lid off.
Sabro Single Hop NEIPA 25/02/20 CLICK ME to monitor progress with Brewfather & iSpindel
- Jocky
- Even further under the Table
- Posts: 2738
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:50 pm
- Location: Epsom, Surrey, UK
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
It's certainly profligate with CO2. I'm not sure if there's a better way though.
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
Re: Dry Hopping in the Keg
Thanks Perfect, thanks Jocky that's helped immensely.Jocky wrote: ↑Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:14 amThat’s mostly it. A few extra details:benchharp wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:55 pmThanks Jocky - so just to make sure i'm following:Jocky wrote: ↑Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:14 pmOnce the keg is purged I briefly take off the lid and drop the hops in quickly. There’s not a lot of oxygen pick up in that time.
If you’ve already filled the keg then you’ll need to turn off or disconnect the gas, pull the prv to depressurise it and then you can remove the lid. Do it quickly and things will be ok. I tend to leave the gas connected and blow in CO2 at a low pressure while doing this. When the lid is back in place I pressurise and then pull the prv a couple of times.
1. Purge Empty Keg
2. Remove Lid Briefly (at this point can I remove the lid with the gas still connected?)
3. Drop in Hops
4. Put lid back on
I have a bit of a fear of the unknown here. Worried about safety
1. Liquid purge empty keg. i.e. fill with Starsan and push out with CO2. You don’t need to do this for all beers, but I do for hoppy ones.
The alternative is to pressurise the keg a few times and release it via the PRV. In this case you’re diluting the oxygen in the keg but not entirely removing it.
2. Turn off gas. Pull pressure relief valve to depressurise keg. Remove lid.
You can’t remove the lid of a pressurised corny keg, so it’s difficult to do something unsafe.
Side note: Commercial (Sankey) kegs are a different beast and are dangerous to open while pressurised.
3. Drop in hops. You can optionally turn on the gas again at a low pressure while doing this and it should ensure no Oxygen gets in.
4. Replace lid, repressurise keg.