Keeping whole hops in FV when bottling

[Jaedee]

So, I've just come into possession of my first ever brewing equipment. Brew-devil 30L, along with a basic fermentation vessel and bottling wand from Malt Miller.

The recipe I'm using is the Son of Punkie Ipa. It calls for dry hopping with whole hops, which I'll be doing in the primary (and only) FV.

The FV is just one of those big plastic buckets, but it has a tap (and airlock) fitted. The bottling wand connects via hose to the tap outlet.

My plan was to add the dry hops directly to the liquor in the FV, but I don't know how I'm going to stop the hops getting through the tap and into the bottling wand.

What should I do?

Brew day is tomorrow, so I can't buy any more kit easily.

 

[yeastinfection]

You won't be bottling for 2 weeks so plenty of time.some guys syphon in to a secondary to batch prime so you could filter using a cloth. Or dry hop in a bag so the hops don't float about loosely. . Therefore no issues with it going in to the bottle

 

[yeastinfection]

Just read you have one fv.so dry hop in a bag. If it's a kit you have. The hops may all ready be in tea bag like thing.

 

[Jaedee]

Thanks, but the thing is I don't have a hop bag, and I don't have any brew shops open to me today.

I was thinking though; because I'm dry hopping with whole hops, won't these float in the FV? Because if so, they won't reach the tap of the FV until the very end of racking, which is fine really.

 

[Leon103]

Get a hop bag or make one with some muslin

 

[Linalmeemow]

Use a pair of tights.

 

[The Baron]

Use a pair of tights.

yeah use 1 leg of a pair of tights and also put a couple of stainless sterilised spoons in to weigh the hops down or they will float
Ps suspend the hop sack with some fishing line or strong cotton so that it hangs about 2 thirds of the way down and not on the bottom also easier to fish out when you want to remove

 

[Jaedee]

Cheers folks!

One final question?

By the end of today I'll have all the liquor transferred to my FV. I've read that it's best not to dry hop until fermentation is basically complete.

But, if I add the yeast to the liquor today, how do I know when it's time to add the dry hops?

 

[The Baron]

Right you will get vigorous fermentation which usually last for 2 to 4 days ( that is the large foamy stuff you will notice on top) when this dies down is the time to add the hops . Now you need to leave the fermentation to ferment for 2 weeks as a standard so take 14 days minus the time you want to dry hop say 7 days so hop on the seventh day. Or as I usually do I would dry hop on the 5th day and remove the hops say on the 12th day and then cold crash or allow to settle for the remaining 2 days and let the trub settle to the bottom to clear the beer a little before bottling

 

[Leon103]

Cheers folks!

One final question?

By the end of today I'll have all the liquor transferred to my FV. I've read that it's best not to dry hop until fermentation is basically complete.

But, if I add the yeast to the liquor today, how do I know when it's time to add the dry hops?

Take hydrometer reading

 

[Jaedee]

Absolutely brilliant.

Thanks for much for the advice folks.

Here we go, first brew today!

 

[Duxuk]

I tend to dry hop for 3 to4 days. So I wait until day 10 or 11. This is to avoid the more grassy or vegetable elements of the flavour coming out and hopefully getting a fresh and aromatic beer. I use a syphon with a filter. You could probably find something mail order or Ebay.

 

[terrym]

If I'm dry hopping I usually leave it until day 8 or 9 or later but definitely until the primary has all but finished then leave the hops in for a further 6 days, with the last 2 days in a cold place to help drop the yeast before packaging. If you add the hops too early the fermentation CO2 will tend strip out the volatile oils that you are trying to infuse from the hops which rather defeats the object of dry hopping. Really you should be in no rush to get the beer packaged, so can afford to be relaxed on timings.
As far as grassy flavours are concerned, my 6 day period has never contributed any, and although it is 'normally' recommended that the dry hopping period is limited to 7 days, I have read on here that people have left beer in the FV for a few weeks on the hops without noticing any grassy taste, although I have never done this myself.
Finally my experience is that nylon is better than muslin for the bag since nylon does not absorb the beer. And dont forget to sterilise the bag before use. If I use one I boil mine for a few minutes before using, and after its been used give it a good rinse through and air dry it before storage.

 

[Duxuk]

It's always possible that grassy flavours are just an old wives tale. I know some add dry hops to the keg!

 

[The Baron]

If I'm dry hopping I usually leave it until day 8 or 9 or later but definitely until the primary has all but finished then leave the hops in for a further 6 days, with the last 2 days in a cold place to help drop the yeast before packaging. If you add the hops too early the fermentation CO2 will tend strip out the volatile oils that you are trying to infuse from the hops which rather defeats the object of dry hopping. Really you should be in no rush to get the beer packaged, so can afford to be relaxed on timings.
As far as grassy flavours are concerned, my 6 day period has never contributed any, and although it is 'normally' recommended that the dry hopping period is limited to 7 days, I have read on here that people have left beer in the FV for a few weeks on the hops without noticing any grassy taste, although I have never done this myself.
Finally my experience is that nylon is better than muslin for the bag since nylon does not absorb the beer. And dont forget to sterilise the bag before use. If I use one I boil mine for a few minutes before using, and after its been used give it a good rinse through and air dry it before storage.

I too have never had any problems dry hopping for 7 days I generally dry hop for 5 to 7 days max and usually on day five and remove before crashing somewhere cooler. Any of these answers will do as there is not a exact science to it you will find the best for you after a couple of times. Happy first brew