Hop Basket

[Shaun-O]

Just bought a wire mesh waste paper bin in home bargains. £2.50
Makes an excellent hop basket in the kettle.

 

[foxbat]

Just bought a wire mesh waste paper bin in home bargains. £2.50
Makes an excellent hop basket in the kettle.

It is made of a food-safe grade of stainless steel, right???

 

[Piperbrew]

I had a look on ebay for the same and found several large tea ball containers ,so bought one of those.

 

[Gunge]

I'm thinking of using pellet instead of leaf hops because a) they're supposed to be better and b) I need more space in the freezer for more... hops! Do these SS hop filter things work with pellets?

 

[nigelnorris]

I'm thinking of using pellet instead of leaf hops because a) they're supposed to be better and b) I need more space in the freezer for more... hops! Do these SS hop filter things work with pellets?

It's easy to underestimate how much pellets will expand. I bought a 12" x 4" 300 micron spider and it's not much use for a hopload above 50g. I usually use it now just for the bittering hops and put the rest into nylon/muslin bags. My experience is made even worse by the fact that I think 300 micron is too fine, there doesn't appear to be much flow through the thing even at full boil.

 

[Gunge]

Oh well it was just a thought...I'll stick to my SS scouring pad which has served me very well over the years. Hope it does as well with pellets as leaves but I doubt it.

 

[Bigcol49]

I bought a 12" x 4" 300 micron spider

Hi!
I've got something similar and have had no problems with pellets and clogging; flow through the mesh seems to be OK (but I can't remember the gauge of the mesh).

 

[Saisonator]

It is made of a food-safe grade of stainless steel, right???

For £2.50, no chance.
It is probably painted too.

 

[Gunge]

For £2.50, no chance.
It is probably painted too.

Ye - I wouldn't let it within a kitchen-length of my ale. Throw it out immediately or use as a, um, waste bin.

 

[stevey]

Oh well it was just a thought...I'll stick to my SS scouring pad which has served me very well over the years. Hope it does as well with pellets as leaves but I doubt it.

I also use scouring pads as a filter in my kettle, and find that pellets really slow down the flow when draining; and that's only using about 20g if leaf isn't available to me.

 

[DoctorMick]

I'm thinking of using pellet instead of leaf hops because a) they're supposed to be better and b) I need more space in the freezer for more... hops! Do these SS hop filter things work with pellets?

I use a hop spider for pellets and it works a treat.