No hop strainer in Peco EB1D mashing and boiling bin

[davidgrace]

I have Just purchased a Peco EB1D mashing bin. I will use it for both mashing and boiling. However, I see that there is no strainer to prevent soggy hops going through the tap into the fermentation bin. I don't have a hop spider and so I am thinking of using a largish nylon mashing bag to catch the hops that I put in during the boil. Does anyone see a problem with this? Should I spend £30 for a hop spider?

 

[Banbeer]

I don't know the bin you have but was wondering if a false bottom would work?

LOOK HERE

 

[Banbeer]

Just had a look at the boiler/mash and a false bottom probably won't work

 

[davidgrace]

Just had a look at the boiler/mash and a false bottom probably won't work

Why do you say that it won't work? I just saw a comment on another forum saying,
"I didn't like the hop strainer for my peco so I recently got this false bottom from geterbrewed and its the bees knees

Stainless Steel False Bottom for Peco Boiler - Get Er Brewed

it fits perfectly in mine and sits above the element and the grain bag rests nicely on it".

 

[cushyno]

I use a peco boiler too. I always use pellet hops, put them in the wort at appropriate time during the boil.

To avoid the hops and other debris going into the fermenter, I drain my wort through a fine mesh bag which has been boiled and sanitised with starsan.

You can rest the bag in a large colander over the FV or simply hold the bag open below the tap as you drain out the wort.

Using a bag like this has the advantage of thoroughly aerating the wort too, as it causes plenty splashing and froth as it passed through the bag.

Occasionally, if there is a lot of hop debris, I will empty out the bag then carry on.

30 brews done this way. It works.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I use a Peco too. All my hops go into a reusable supermarket fruit and veg bag clipped to the side of the boiler.

 

[davidgrace]

I use a Peco too. All my hops go into a reusable supermarket fruit and veg bag clipped to the side of the boiler.
View attachment 31584

I have a nylon mashing bag that I could use in the way you describe, but would there be some risk of the electric element scalding the nylon bag?

 

[Banbeer]

Why do you say that it won't work?

Because of the element, the false bottom will be resting on it and will be lob sided unless you make something that makes it sit above the element and level

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I have a nylon mashing bag that I could use in the way you describe, but would there be some risk of the electric element scalding the nylon bag?

I clip mine so as they cannot touch the element.

 

[LuckyDip23]

I have literally just fitted a hop strainer to mine today.

I bought this off eBay for 12 quid 1/2'' Stainless Steel Ball Valve Weldless Homebrew Compact Wine Beer Kettle Pot 6038673282861 | eBay plus a cheap hop strainer with a 1/2” fitting and it’s gone on dead easy.

I tried the ikea splash guard as a false bottom and had issues with it - the plastic kettle flexes as you pick it up and move it around after the boil and I found hops and crud snuck under the bottom and into the fermenter. Having my immersion chiller leaning on it didnt help either.

Hoping this strainer will solve my problems. And as a bonus you get a better tap than the crap plastic one it came with.

All done for sub £20.

 

[davidgrace]

I have literally just fitted a hop strainer to mine today.

I bought this off eBay for 12 quid 1/2'' Stainless Steel Ball Valve Weldless Homebrew Compact Wine Beer Kettle Pot 6038673282861 | eBay plus a cheap hop strainer with a 1/2” fitting and it’s gone on dead easy.

I tried the ikea splash guard as a false bottom and had issues with it - the plastic kettle flexes as you pick it up and move it around after the boil and I found hops and crud snuck under the bottom and into the fermenter. Having my immersion chiller leaning on it didnt help either.

Hoping this strainer will solve my problems. And as a bonus you get a better tap than the crap plastic one it came with.

All done for sub £20.

Thanks for this. Can you send me a link to the hop strainer with a 1/2" fitting on eBay? I think the Ball Valve you bought might be sold out with some available for around the same price from China. I may purchase from China or watch out for one from the U.K.

 

[LuckyDip23]

I'd actually bought the hop filter from Malt Miller on my previous order : Brewing Equipment - Bazooka Hop filter 12" - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller.

I originally bought this tap from there too to do the tap mod, but the bend on the tap was a bit too big so the hose barb lifts the bottom of the kettle off the floor so it wasnt suitable : Brewing Equipment - Fittings - 1/2'' BSP Stainless Ball Valve Assembly with 13mm Barb - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller

I replaced the tap with the ebay one above. That seller was UK based as well - only took a couple of days for the new tap to turn up.

 

[Slid]

I have tried a copper filter with my Peco boiler - did not think it worked well.
Hop Spider also have - don't fancy it with the Peco, but it is marketed for GF (mine no longer reaches a boil).
Top suggestion is the nylon bags - you can use 2 or more for different timings.

 

[MickDundee]

I’ve given up on the bazooka filter in every one of the 3 brewing systems I’ve had (a Peco, a SS boiler and now Brewdevil) because it just blocks.

 

[davidgrace]

I'd actually bought the hop filter from Malt Miller on my previous order : Brewing Equipment - Bazooka Hop filter 12" - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller.

I originally bought this tap from there too to do the tap mod, but the bend on the tap was a bit too big so the hose barb lifts the bottom of the kettle off the floor so it wasnt suitable : Brewing Equipment - Fittings - 1/2'' BSP Stainless Ball Valve Assembly with 13mm Barb - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller

I replaced the tap with the ebay one above. That seller was UK based as well - only took a couple of days for the new tap to turn up.

Thanks again. If I have the peco boiler on a worktop with the tap overhanging would that work with the maltmiller valve?

 

[davidgrace]

I have tried a copper filter with my Peco boiler - did not think it worked well.
Hop Spider also have - don't fancy it with the Peco, but it is marketed for GF (mine no longer reaches a boil).
Top suggestion is the nylon bags - you can use 2 or more for different timings.

I have a mashing nylon bag that I can clip to the rim of the peco and so add hops to this bag at each timing. Alternatively, I have a few small nylon bags 16cm x 7cm and could add hops to each of these bags at each timing. The use of these smaller bags appeals to me more than the one large bag, but would they prove too small. What size of nylon bags would be helpful?

 

[Slid]

The problem with small bags is that the hops may not get much water circulation over them, so suggest the supermarket fruit and veg bags as a benchmark for sizing. If you search for Paint Strainer Bags, you should get some ideas.

 

[LuckyDip23]

Thanks again. If I have the peco boiler on a worktop with the tap overhanging would that work with the maltmiller valve?

I think you’d be fine with that. It doesn’t stick out a massive amount just a couple of cm but it’s enough to stop it sitting flat when the tap points straight down. You can always rotate the tap so it’s not pointing straight down however.

two other things
1/ you’ll will need to purchase a 1.2” collar to be able connect the hop steamer to the inside If you use the malt miller tap
2/ the thread on that the tap is not massive so you will not be able to use the nut and the collar at the same time as you won’t be able to screw both onto the Tap thread. The eBay tap doesn’t use a nut - just the collar (grab it with a pair of pliers to tighten) so you’d need to get rid of the nut altogether on the malt Miller tap.

 

[davidgrace]

I use a Peco too. All my hops go into a reusable supermarket fruit and veg bag clipped to the side of the boiler.
View attachment 31584

A different Peco Bin question, if you don't mind. I intend to use my Peco bin on the kitchen worktop, but the instructions tell me it should be used on the floor. Do you know if this simply a matter of safety or is there some other reason?

 

[LuckyDip23]

Probably safety and so you just don’t damage your worktop - can’t imagine a laminate top liking 100 oC of head on it for an hour - I use mine on the floor for that reason alone.

Kettle bottom get toasty when your using it.