Brew-boy
Well-Known Member
I have a kettle with a stainless ball valve but no matter what I try I still get lots of trub into the frementor. What do you guys do who have ball valves on your kettles? Do you all use the Hop Stopper type device?
SilkkyBrew said:I suppose I could. For ("normally" - i.e. 3 hop additions on average) $1 per batch though I normally don't mind. I was just throwing the thought out there for the others who are concerned with cost per batch. Good point though, you could wash them, just seems to me like it would be more mess than the $.39 warrants...
Lil' Sparky said:See here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22684&highlight=hopstopper
The consensus is a hopstopper works well. You can make your own for less if you want to buy the materials and take the time.
Brewhead also uses one of these. Probably a cheaper and equally effective solution.
SilkkyBrew said:Hmm... That Brewhead device looks pretty sweet... And probably $50+ cheaper than the hopstopper.
I just use muslin bags to hold my hops at this point. Although some of the hops get through, I'd say it provides for 90% less trub than if I didn't bag them. Of course the $.39 per bag, per hop addition can add up if you are doing a highly hopped brew. I used 8 hop bags on my last beer; an additional $3+ to the cost of the batch, but oh well. In addition to the use of the muslin bags, my funnel has a strainer in it. It seems to get clogged quite easily b/c it is VERY fine mesh, but it manages to save even more hop particles from getting in...
Lil' Sparky said:Brewhead also uses one of these. Probably a cheaper and equally effective solution.
javedian said:Go check out the kitchen section at one of the big home stores. Look for a fine mesh strainer - they are not the easiest to find, as most of the larger ones have larger mesh. I use a 10" diameter all stainless strainer with very fine mesh. Throw it in the sanitizer along with a rubber spatula. After chilling, pour through, and when it starts clogging, scrape the trub & hop gunk out and continue. My last batch took about 3 dumpings. Comes in handy in the kitchen too.
I like this idea and it looks easy enough to use and make. However, I use an immersion chiller and put it in the last 10 minutes of my boil so this probably would not work
... unless you use a CFC or plate chiller.AleHole said:I like to whirlpool and siphon, cheap yet effective.
I don't know that your blowoff had anything to do with hops. I mean, is it a little grimier than it could have been? Maybe. Blow offs happen.
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