Dry Hop Bag Weights

[floydmeddler]

Need to do a 200g dry hop soon and was considering ways of weighing down my giant hop bag (basically an extra sized washing machine bag). Here's what I'm thinking: A smooth rounded very heavy stone inside a sandwich bag (tied tight of course) then put in a pot of water and bring to 80c to sanitise/sterilise. Allow to sit for 15 mins or so. Chuck it in the hopbag with the hops and into the fermenter it goes.

Yes I know I should use some proper weights but I don't have any and now I need a quick fix!

[gnutz2]

Just throw the hops in, no bag.

I never have a problem syphoning the beer off the hops, i use one of those sediment traps on the racking cane and it acts as a filter.

[jaroporter]

i imagine that someone might have researched it, but there must be some kind of weight to hop ratio (save abnormal shapes) to get the f'n bag to sit on the bottom. i've tried marbles, cutlery, wrenches. next time it's the iron marquee mallethead.. :s

[WishboneBrewery]

I'm with Gnutz2 and just throw them in the fermenter loose then syphon off with a Tea-ball dunked in the beer on the end of the syphon tube. (Hole poked in Tea-ball to fit tube)


Tea-Ball and Syphon Tube by pdtnc, on Flickr

[IPA]

Quote: Need to do a 200g dry hop

This must be a huge brew!!!!!

[WishboneBrewery]

btw, 200g leaf steals a lot of your wort when loose dry hopping!
Pellets if chilled down in FV will settle out to a thick mud layer and you should loose less.

[floydmeddler]

Cheers lads. Defs thought for the future.

[floydmeddler]

Quote: Need to do a 200g dry hop

This must be a huge brew!!!!!

Yes it is IPA. Judging by your username, it would be right up your street! Here it is: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=56058

[orlando]

Just throw the hops in, no bag.

I never have a problem syphoning the beer off the hops, i use one of those sediment traps on the racking cane and it acts as a filter.

This is fine unless you want to harvest the yeast after fermentation. If you choose to do this by top cropping at the start of fermentation then this becomes my preferred method as I am sceptical as to how efficient dry hopping is when in a bag or one of the Tea balls in the pictures.

[gnutz2]

Whenever I harvest yeast I have to rack off anyway because I use finnings, dont want isinglass in with the slurry. Fair point though.

It's funny how we all settle on methods that suit us but can be totally different from the next man.

[AnthonyUK]

Marbles are pretty good

I used a stainless steel teaspoon last time

[SamT]

I've had issues with the 'loose handfuls of whole cone hops in the FV' approach (a couple of cones got stuck in the outlet of the tap and blocked the entire works up, nary a trickle or beer was getting out)

I've tried hop bags, but I don't think this is an optimum use of hops, I'd expect a lot more 'punch' than I got with the amount I've used

Anyone ever used a hop filter in an FV? (and how the hell would you fit it?)

[WishboneBrewery]

Like this on the end of a Syphon tube.

[critch]

i use a length of 316 stainless 8mm chain, keeps the hop bag down a treat.

makes getting the bugger out a little interesting however

[SamT]

Like this on the end of a Syphon tube.

Aye, that'd do it. Though I assume that's on the end of a siphon? I tend to use a tap on my fvs