Thoughts on hop straining

[brownbeard]

I use hop pellets (as do most of us). The big problem with hop pellets is all that nasty trub. So, I have been using different straining methods over the last few months to try and limit the amount of trub I get, while still getting the most out of my hops.

The first thing I used was a nylon hop straining bag from Northern Brewer. It was a small nylon mesh bag that had a draw string at the top. The upsides were, no trub, and a convenient draw string. But, I always felt like I was not getting all I could out of my hops. The bag would be completely full, not allowing for much flow.

Next was muslin bags. These did a fairly good job of keeping trub out of the kettle (even better if you double them up). The seemed to have pretty good flow through (not as good if you double them up). And, there is the convenience of throwing them away after the boil. However, they can only be used once. Still not quite what I wanted.

Finally, I have started using some nylon straining bags from Benz. They are bigger than the hop straining bag from Northern Brewer. They have an elastic top designed to fit over a gallon bucket. These were big enough to allow for plenty of flow through. The nylon mesh is fine enough to keep all the trub in the bag. And they are reusable. The only drawback is the top, there is no way to secure the bags. I solved this by getting a roll of butchers twine. I can tie the top off with that, and leave a long enough tail to tie the bags to the top of the kettle during the boil (that way they are not laying on the bottom of the kettle when I put the chiller in.

[DaveCo]

Thanks for posting this. Does the bag float or does it sink to the bottom of the boil tank? Also, do you just leave it in until after you move the wort into the fermentor?

Dave

[brownbeard]

Thanks for posting this. Does the bag float or does it sink to the bottom of the boil tank? Also, do you just leave it in until after you move the wort into the fermentor?

Dave

During the boil, the bags appear to be pretty buoyant. Once it stops, they sink like a rock. I use a clothespin to hook them to the top of the kettle. It doesn't appear to harm the bags to sit on the bottom, I just don't like it. I remove them after draining the kettle, and clean them in the sink.

edit: another reason for not leaving them on the bottom is that they have a tendency to plug the drain.

[tompb]

I use nylon jelly bags I bought at a kitchen store (the one in Lindale I think). They are bigger then the hop bags. I have used them with pellets, whole hops, corriander, orange zest. They retain most of the trub. They float well during the boil, and sink like a rock at flame out. I usually retrieve them and sqeeze them outbefore I chill. I have chilled with them in, but not very often. An overnight soak in Oxyclean makes them look like new.


Tom

[Matt F]

I do not use bags at all and don't get much trub from the boil kettle transferred to my primary fermenter. The key is to whirlpool similar to a professional brewery. About 10 minutes before the end of the boil, put a stirring device in your brew kettle. I use a stainless mash paddle, but a spoon or something works great too. At the end of the boil, stir the boil kettle vigorously to create a whirlpool. Wait 10 to 20 minutes and all the trub settles in a cone in the middle of the pot. Then open the spigot and drain. No trub. If you have no spigot, siphon from the edge of the kettle. I attached a picture from another guys website.

[brownbeard]

I do not use bags at all and don't get much trub from the boil kettle transferred to my primary fermenter. The key is to whirlpool similar to a professional brewery. About 10 minutes before the end of the boil, put a stirring device in your brew kettle. I use a stainless mash paddle, but a spoon or something works great too. At the end of the boil, stir the boil kettle vigorously to create a whirlpool. Wait 10 to 20 minutes and all the trub settles in a cone in the middle of the pot. Then open the spigot and drain. No trub. If you have no spigot, siphon from the edge of the kettle. I attached a picture from another guys website.

Yeah. My only problem with this is that my pickup tub goes to the center of my kettle, not the edge. I am planning on building a new kettle soon, and will remedy that flaw in the new one. I think I will still use the bags though. Now that I've done the research and all.

[tony b]

I used to try straining with a metal fine mesh filter during the transfer to the primary, but the filter clogged so frequently that it took a long time to transfer and I am naturally lazy, so I started experimenting, too.

Since my brew kettle doesn't have a spigot on the bottom, I transfer the hot wort to my bottling bucket that does have a spigot about 3/4" or so off the bottom. The wort cools faster with the chiller in this cooler plastic bucket than the hot brew kettle (stainless). Then I use the spigot to transfer to the primary and it leaves most of the sediment in bottom and what does come through, I can still use the metal screen to filter out. The only minor downside is that you have another thing to clean once you're done.

Next brew, I might try the whirlpool effect in the bottling bucket just before the transfer to the primary. I might be able to eliminate the screen.

[TappedOut]

I whirlpool, too. I have an immersion chiller, so I cool first (gotta keep stirring), then remove the chiller, give a good stir, and go sanitize my fermenter. I found that if you keep the chiller in, it screws w/ the fluid dynamics, and doesn't form a good cone. Then, I just siphon off the side. You also get some cold break out, too, if you think that matters.

There's more than one way to make good beer!