Can I hop a beer in a pressure barrel?

[donchiquon]

Had a search but I can't find any threads on this - apologies in advance if I've missed a load

One of the brews I have in a pressure barrel is a rather bland, slightly sweet kit ale that I didn't tweak (wanted to have a "standard version" to compare tweaks to).

I've now had my fill of it, and was wondering if I could tart up the beer in the barrel. Could I carefully remove cap, drop in a weighted bag of hops, refit cap, and purge a couple of times with CO2? Or is this madness and I will be left with a barrel of oxidised swill after a week

I was thinking of drinking up in the next week or two, so hopefully quicly enough to offset any off-flavours that might result from the hops being in too long.

If this is advisable, any thoughts on hop quantity and variety. I was thinking of maybe 15g Goldings and 15g Citra for a blend of old world and new!

I have EKG, Styrian Goldings, Progress, Northern Brewer, Mosaic, Cascade, and Citra.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[GHW]

You could do it...if you're sick of the beer then threw not much to lose by trying.

You've covered the main risks, oxidisation and hops in too long. Oxidisation is not an instant process though and the co2 should prevent it.

and if you're going to drink it then the hops won't be in that long. Two weeks is more than most would advise for dry hopping, but again, if you're sick of drinking it and don't mind that small risk then why not.

Never tried a mix of UK/us style hops for dry hopping, but you've got a low risk opportunity to see how it goes, so go for it.

Let me know though as I'm planning a black IPA which will be dry hopped with a variety of UK and new world hops.

 

[donchiquon]

You could do it...if you're sick of the beer then threw not much to lose by trying.

You've covered the main risks, oxidisation and hops in too long. Oxidisation is not an instant process though and the co2 should prevent it.

and if you're going to drink it then the hops won't be in that long. Two weeks is more than most would advise for dry hopping, but again, if you're sick of drinking it and don't mind that small risk then why not.

Never tried a mix of UK/us style hops for dry hopping, but you've got a low risk opportunity to see how it goes, so go for it.

Let me know though as I'm planning a black IPA which will be dry hopped with a variety of UK and new world hops.

Perfect. No more persuasion needed!!!

The deed is done. 10g of EKG, 10g of Citra. Added to about 5 litres in the barrel in a hop sock full of marbles.

As I was feeding the sock through the 2" barrel neck I was thinking that getting it back out should be interesting :whistle:

I'll let you know how it goes....

 

[Tony1951]

I always hopped my plastic kegs and never had any issue at all. I used to put in about 20grammes of citra. It helped teh flavour no end when I was brewing kits. I used the hops in bags and just loose. Now and again I had a bit of hop in a glass, but that was no problem - like getting pips in raspberry jam as far as I am concerned. Adding them late like you are doing should be no problem either. I'm guessing you can gas up the keg with a sparklets bulb. If not, just add some sugar syrup. It is amazing how that works. I gave a keg of stout to a friend's son for his 21st in June. Last week he sheepishly confided that it had run out of gas months ago and he had a half a keg of flat stout that gurgled when he tried to pour it. I thought it would be bad, but when I loosened the cap to let some out, the beer was rather nice if totally flat. I poured in 50 grammes of white sugar and shook up the barrel and three days later it had plenty of gas. That beer is seven months old and has been flat and gurgling air into it for four months and it is fine. It took the yeast a few days only to come back to life when sugared up. Beer is a lot tougher than some people think.

 

[donchiquon]

I always hopped my plastic kegs and never had any issue at all. I used to put in about 20grammes of citra. It helped teh flavour no end when I was brewing kits. I used the hops in bags and just loose. Now and again I had a bit of hop in a glass, but that was no problem - like getting pips in raspberry jam as far as I am concerned. Adding them late like you are doing should be no problem either. I'm guessing you can gas up the keg with a sparklets bulb. If not, just add some sugar syrup. It is amazing how that works. I gave a keg of stout to a friend's son for his 21st in June. Last week he sheepishly confided that it had run out of gas months ago and he had a half a keg of flat stout that gurgled when he tried to pour it. I thought it would be bad, but when I loosened the cap to let some out, the beer was rather nice if totally flat. I poured in 50 grammes of white sugar and shook up the barrel and three days later it had plenty of gas. That beer is seven months old and has been flat and gurgling air into it for four months and it is fine. It took the yeast a few days only to come back to life when sugared up. Beer is a lot tougher than some people think.

Brilliant - love the 21st story...I can just picture his face confessing the glugging barrel! Very reassuring that it gassed up after 7 months!

I'm amazed to say that 8 hours after hopping my bland barrel I am now drinking a full on hoppy ale! Can't believe what a difference it has made. I figured it would take about 48 hours to change the flavour but this is incredible!

Garethhuwwilliams - I tried a Brodies black IPA a couple of weeks ago, and although I've no idea how to describe the mix of hop flavours this is very similar. I think you'll be happy with the mix!

Thanks both for the advice!

 

[Twostage]

The book 'hops' is very informative about questions like this. In general the answer to "can I do X with hops ?" the answer is "yes".

 

[donchiquon]

The book 'hops' is very informative about questions like this. In general the answer to "can I do X with hops ?" the answer is "yes".

Sounds good, but I can't see the title on Amazon....who's the author?

Had another "test" last night. This has completely transformed an otherwise very average beer. The rest of the barrel is not going to last long!!!!

 

[donchiquon]

The book 'hops' is very informative about questions like this. In general the answer to "can I do X with hops ?" the answer is "yes".

Sounds good, but I can't see the title on Amazon....who's the author?

Had another "test" last night. This has completely transformed an otherwise very average beer. The rest of the barrel is not going to last long!!!!