Using dried hops with beer kits

[droche]

I've just started drinking a Coopers IPA that I made using a hop T bag in the fermenter and it's very nice but I would like to brew something that is even more hoppy. I bought a Hoppy Copper in the Wilko sale and thought about buying dried hops ( something like Citra or Warrior ) that come in 100g packs. Does anyone know what weight of hops would be best to use. I planned to infuse them in boiling water then throw the lot in the fv and maybe brew 20 litres. I must be a bit of a hop head because I love hoppy beers that all my friends find undrinkable (even more beer for me ) Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Cheers :drink:

 

[Pakman]

On my last Sundew brew I added a hop tea (25gms Perle stewed for 30 mins in a cafetierre and then cooled) into the fermenter on day 2. I made the brew much better than standard Sundew. :
Graham

 

[droche]

Thanks for that Graham. So by using the cafetiere you didn't put the hops in the fermenter ? sounds like that will be less messy :thumb:

 

[mattrickl06]

I think it depends what you are after - a hop tea will add more flavour than aroma whereas dry hopping will mainly just add aroma.

You will need less hops for the hop tea and more for dry hopping i would say - 30g upwards for dry hopping in a 20l batch would be about right, but then again that depends on the beta content of the hops - i dry hopped about 30g of simcoe into a beer and it was probably too much as it smelt a bit like pine disenfectant.

Saying that - i am not an expert but sure someone with a bit more knowledge will correct me.

 

[droche]

I'm going for flavour rather than aroma. I've just looked on the alpha acids chart and simcoe are 13% just a little higher than Citra. Any idea how much to use ? I think the hops I used in the IPA weighed 12g (fuggles aa4.8 %) so I'm tempted to use 20g of citra. If anyone thinks that will ruin it please let me know. It only cost me a fiver but I'll still cry if it spoils it. It's true what they say about us Yorkshire folk and money :lol:

 

[rpt]

The alpha acid value for hops determines how much bitterness you will get from them, rather than flavour or aroma. I think there is some correlation between these 3 but I'd be interested to know how much.

 

[morethanworts]

I've dry hopped with 40-50g Goldings pellets in 21.5l Wherry kit, for 5-7 days in secondary, twice (two batches). Tons of aroma and some taste added too, compared to primary tasting. Too hoppy for some, but lovely if you like it like that :drink:

 

[RobWalker]

10g of 13% AA hops in

5L boiling water for 30 minutes will give

15 IBU's.

You need to boil for a while to add flavour. boiling for a few mins will only add aroma. I'd suggest a combination of this and some aroma hops steeped in 60c water for 20 minutes, but maybe 10g-20g if you're just looking for a small edge.

 

[droche]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to brew this on Wednesday and use 20g of citra hops and boil them like Rob has suggested. I'll have an 'evaluation sip' when it's finished and decide if needs any dry hops. I'll be using medium spray malt as well and I think I've a beer enhancer from the wilko sale that I'll throw in. I'll post back in a few weeks and let you know what it's like.

Cheers :

 

[redhousebrewing]

I've dry hopped a few kits now and feel the effect is positive (both armoa and to a lesser extent taste).
I've been using 20-33g of dry hops per 5 gallon batch (Goldings is bitter, Saaz is lager).

Stuart

 

[droche]

Just put this brew on today. I went to the LHBS this morning and they had sold out of Citra hops The only ones they had with a similar AA value was Northern Brewer. I boiled 30g for 20 mins and added it to the fermenter with the Hoppy Copper kit and 1kg of brew enhancer. Got an OG of 1.038, the trial jar sample tasted very promising and the house smelled lovely