Is a hop spider worth it?

[chuff76]

http://www.bridgewaterbrewing.co.uk/hop-spiders.html

I've got this one, and its a lovely bit of kit but I do wonder if it restricts the hop utilisation. It's also a pain to clean properly but I will not go without it again - I've used it twice, second time I added the flameout hops in loose instead of in the spider and my god what a nightmare that was getting the wort out of my kettle

 

[jceg316]

http://www.bridgewaterbrewing.co.uk/hop-spiders.html

I've got this one, and its a lovely bit of kit but I do wonder if it restricts the hop utilisation. It's also a pain to clean properly but I will not go without it again - I've used it twice, second time I added the flameout hops in loose instead of in the spider and my god what a nightmare that was getting the wort out of my kettle

Does it handle pellets well?

Today I used the most amount of hops I've used in the kettle in a long time. I turned the tap on to get get the gravity reading, an avalanche of hops came out the tap. Many made it into my fermeter.

So my lovely invention is actually a load of sh*t and I'll be getting a hop spider.

 

[Fil]

http://www.bridgewaterbrewing.co.uk/hop-spiders.html

I've got this one, and its a lovely bit of kit but I do wonder if it restricts the hop utilisation. It's also a pain to clean properly but I will not go without it again - I've used it twice, second time I added the flameout hops in loose instead of in the spider and my god what a nightmare that was getting the wort out of my kettle

thats what ive treated myself to too i was won over by how clean it is after seeing the US made expensive ones (granted built to spec), which show signs of untreated heat damage to the SS by the welding heat used?.
The Bridgewater brewing sold model is grand and does arrive well packed and undamaged..

if utilisation is a concern you can recirculate the boil through the spider to ensure a good flow of hot wort passes through the hop mass.. a lil brown solar pump is more than upto the job

and to clean #1 just rinse from the outside with a hose or under a tap, #2 leave to dry, #3 use a nylon stiff bristle brush to remove any remaining vegetable matter (an old toothbrush for the base/corner/edge)

 

[stpete]

I made my own very simple hop spider from parts found in B&Q, Wickes and Screwfix. Not used in anger yet but I'm hopeful. Will have a Nylon filter bage atatched (draw string or zip tied) and hops dropped in as usual, since I recirculate I may try to do this during steep but probably not during boil, my element is 3kw and boil is pretty vigorous.

 

[stpete]

And yes that is a 110mm soil pipe :):lol:

 

[Bridgewater Brewer]

Hop spiders are great, and save you money in the long run. You need at. Least 300 micron screen. Cleaning is easy,empty rinse then wash in hot water from the outside. Leave to dry. Any stubborn bits just brush with a paintbrush.

 

[jceg316]

Hop spiders are great, and save you money in the long run. You need at. Least 300 micron screen. Cleaning is easy,empty rinse then wash in hot water from the outside. Leave to dry. Any stubborn bits just brush with a paintbrush.

Is the hop spider you sell good for pellets, or would you recommend another filter over the tap as well?

Thanks

 

[Wilfy]

I made my own very simple hop spider from parts found in B&Q, Wickes and Screwfix. Not used in anger yet but I'm hopeful. Will have a Nylon filter bage atatched (draw string or zip tied) and hops dropped in as usual, since I recirculate I may try to do this during steep but probably not during boil, my element is 3kw and boil is pretty vigorous.

Looks like my first attempt. I replaced the plastic pipe with metal after it deformed and the jubilee clip came loose and dropped the hop bag into the wort!

 

[Bridgewater Brewer]

300 microns is fine for pellets but I use a y filter as well

 

[Thodd]

The main desire for me to get a Hop Spider was that I wanted to start to use the "build your own AG kits" that Malt Miller and GeterBrewed offer now. The Hops they provide are pellets - and if I add pellets direct to my boil they clog up my Bazooka and its a nightmere.

I had plans to build a Hop Spider with large plastic pipe section and a Jubilee clip as I've seen on this site - I even salvaged the pipe of a builder friend and have the bits I need to build it.

However laziness consumed me and I never actually got around to building it, and during my last brew day this is what I cobbled together -

I actually think this is the best solution for me as its easy to clean, and packs away nice and small.