Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
So I thought I'd been really clever - but there was a weakness in my cunning plan.
I got two herb infusers (like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kuchenprofi-Her ... +herb+ball ) filled them with dry hops (El Dorado and columbus in my saison yeast IPA and pacific Jade in the NZPA) which went into the cornie kegs after primary fermentation - running wort through them and then securing with thin stainless steel wire to cornie lid so I could lift them out. Having used these at end of primary ferment before I know that initially they float but once all the hops are thoroughly soaked they sink - so i wanted to lift them out. So far so cunning - till the wire snapped!
SO what to do:
1 - leave it: dry hop till its finished, allowing them to sink to bottom of cornie next to dip tube will be like having a cornie-internal hop rocket maybe!
http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/public/det ... EW20265852
2 - leave it as dry hopping then avoid issue of too-long-dry-hopping and bottle from cornie
3 - Sterilise some "tools" (fondue forks maybe? and hook these out before they sink.
There's a poll for that questions but the real hope here is to get others' experience to inform this: I've heard of "recommended upper limits" for dry hopping typically 1 - 2 weeks and warning of "grassiness" if left in longer - what of actual experiences though? Is this over-stated and longer dry hopping not an issue in fact? WIll more contained hops in a tea ball help or hinder that? 1 then 2 if it starts to be grassy an obvious option!)
I got two herb infusers (like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kuchenprofi-Her ... +herb+ball ) filled them with dry hops (El Dorado and columbus in my saison yeast IPA and pacific Jade in the NZPA) which went into the cornie kegs after primary fermentation - running wort through them and then securing with thin stainless steel wire to cornie lid so I could lift them out. Having used these at end of primary ferment before I know that initially they float but once all the hops are thoroughly soaked they sink - so i wanted to lift them out. So far so cunning - till the wire snapped!
SO what to do:
1 - leave it: dry hop till its finished, allowing them to sink to bottom of cornie next to dip tube will be like having a cornie-internal hop rocket maybe!
http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/public/det ... EW20265852
2 - leave it as dry hopping then avoid issue of too-long-dry-hopping and bottle from cornie
3 - Sterilise some "tools" (fondue forks maybe? and hook these out before they sink.
There's a poll for that questions but the real hope here is to get others' experience to inform this: I've heard of "recommended upper limits" for dry hopping typically 1 - 2 weeks and warning of "grassiness" if left in longer - what of actual experiences though? Is this over-stated and longer dry hopping not an issue in fact? WIll more contained hops in a tea ball help or hinder that? 1 then 2 if it starts to be grassy an obvious option!)
Last edited by lancsSteve on Wed May 29, 2013 8:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
I happily leave hops in tea balls throughout the duration in the corny, often months at a time, with up to 40g. Never had any grassiness.
FV: -
Conditioning: AG34 Randy's Three Nipple Tripel 9.2%, AG39 APA for a mate's wedding
On bottle: AG32 Homegrown Northdown ESB, AG33 Homegrown Cascade Best
On tap: -
Garden: 2x cascade, 2x Farnham whitebine (mathon), 2x northdown, 1x first gold
Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
Alright,
I don't use cornies but with pressure barrels I have had a hop sock with a oz of cascade in the barrel for the last month and its been a revelation. A strong high hop level that is not disapating over time and no grassy flavours at all...so far at least. I'll be doing this again in a citra pale soon.
I don't use cornies but with pressure barrels I have had a hop sock with a oz of cascade in the barrel for the last month and its been a revelation. A strong high hop level that is not disapating over time and no grassy flavours at all...so far at least. I'll be doing this again in a citra pale soon.
Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
Thanks Bobba, I kind of figured as much - have been reminded on twitter that I could always rack to another cornie keg as I have a couple empty - which is the least-ball-achy of the "if I have to" options.
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Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
I chuck about 20g of hops into the keg and leave them in there for as long as it takes me to drink the beer.
No problem now I've sorted out a cask hop filter.
Guy
No problem now I've sorted out a cask hop filter.
Guy
- far9410
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Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
I normally leave hops in fv for about 10 days, prior to kegging
no palate, no patience.
Drinking - of course
Drinking - of course
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Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
My current brew will have pellet dry hops in the FV for a week-ish, I'm anticipating a little harshness at first but expect them to mellow, I'm not expecting anything grassy from my choice of Columbus, Cascade, Chinook.
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Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
I left a metric fucktonne (160g in 18l) of Simcoe and Galaxy in my Christmas IPA for nearly 3 months by the time it was polished off.
It got better every day.
Disclaimer: I am a hop-addicted mental. Ymmv.
It got better every day.
Disclaimer: I am a hop-addicted mental. Ymmv.
"There are no strong beers, only weak men"
Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
Thanks all - this was my original plan (leave it in) then I got all clever/worried about upper limits. HOPEFULLY this will be two truly hoppy and different beers!
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Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
I think you already have your answer, I'll back the other sentiments, I've often hopped in the keg and never noticed a grassy taste,I would also agree it gets better..perhaps the grassy notes that the bjcp refer to occur in beers that are dry hopped with earthy varieties like fuggles and willamette...ps go you still want my national results .
"Everybody should belive in something : and I belive I'll have another drink".
Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
I DO like a consensus and experience! My only slight regret now is I think put too many hops in the herb ball so they'll have expanded into a solid block... Still all seems fine.
Yeah your Kolsch judging sheets would be MOST welcome... Thanks. Hope all's well - catch you at another NCBA event sometime I hope.
Yeah your Kolsch judging sheets would be MOST welcome... Thanks. Hope all's well - catch you at another NCBA event sometime I hope.
Re: Upper limits for dry hopping time period?
Id leave it. My experience tells me that dry hopping under pressure doesn't lead to grassiness over time.