Put a sock on it!

[cwrw]

Hi,
I'm going for a brew day tomorrow, and was wondering if anyone has used a hop bag for their AG boil. I'm thinking of doing so tomorrow for the first time, as I've been having difficulties in draining the maximum wort after the boil due to hop population at the filter. Is this an idea destined to cause more grief, as presumably more trub could fall into the primary container, whilst also noting that hop flavour could be compromised as it does not have the same freedom in the boil?
Any uptake tonight would be greatfully received. Cheers :drink:

 

[abeyptfc]

quite alot of people put their hops in a muslin bag for the boil, it saves a bit of cleaning up at the end aswell. I done it when brewing extract beers and had no problems. you can put the hops in a muslin bag or do this here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4-3ndsood0

 

[artyb]

great likkle vid .. :clap:

 

[Jeltz]

I use a hop sock for my boil, it works great, I squeeze the lovely hoppy liquid out at then end so don't lose much to the adsorption.

 

[cwrw]

Cheers, that looks good to me....grain bag...gotta get me one of those as well! Thanks guys :thumb:

 

[jonnymorris]

...as presumably more trub could fall into the primary container

Loose hops will act as a filter so without them you will get more break material into the fermenter as you have suggested. Not a big deal TBH.

 

[Jeltz]

I have a kind of hop filter but found it clogged up easily, its still in there. A lot of the break material adherers to the hop bag and most of the rest is stopped by the hop filter.

 

[LeithR]

You can try something like this

Partially opening and trapping your brew bag round the edge of your boiler then the hops are confined into a small area.

 

[cwrw]

All went well with using a hop bag instead of loose hops yesterday, but as soon as I'd turned my back on the nicely draining boiler it had emptied in double quick time through the standard hop filter - with the cold break material! Lesson learnt - pace the output to a dribble next time so as hopefully to allow the break mass to stay in the boiler...aagh!
Any top tips at getting the wort to clear up, as I am brewing a lager (due for secondary in 5 days), and want to use the scuzz from the primary for my second lager next week? :whistle:

 

[PD]

When I started I had a tea urn type boiler with its customary poor quality small tap. I use to put all my hops into muslin bags and hang them in the boiler at the appropriate times ( clothes pegs used to hang them from boiler side )

Worked fine and no blockages but cleaning up was a nightmare....I could never untie the knots on the muslin socks to dispose of the hops !

I've now upgraded to a better boiler with a good solid tap and the hops fly free in the boiler. On draining they all congregate along the 12 inch bazooka screen filter and assist in filtering the wort.

I still get break material through into the fermenter but its no problem as it all settles out after fermentation.