Hop aroma loss through blow off tube

[guypettigrew]

Instead of an airlock on my SS Brewtech 7 gallon chronical I'm using a blow off tube. It runs into a small bucket of water. There's always some yeast pushed through the blow off tube during fermentation and using an airlock would just get very messy! The water in the bucket gets very contaminated with yeast and beer over the first 48-72 hours of fermentation.

When I change the water in the bucket to put clean water in it (as I've just done) the smell from the beer/yeast mix in the water is gorgeous. Really hoppy and aromatic.

Anyone know why so much hop aroma is lost in the yeast overflow, and is there any way of preventing it? Seems a shame to lose the loveliness I've worked so hard to get into the beer!

Guy

[john luc]

When the yeast is fully active,it will be producing alot of co2 and this will strip out some hop aroma. If you want a super hoppy beer you can dry hop after the madness of the ferment has subsided.

[guypettigrew]

Of course. CO2 extraction of hop oils is a well known procedure. Silly me for not making the connection!

Thanks, john luc.

Guy