Getting the most hop aroma...

[monk]

I've found that while I'm not an extremist when it comes to hop bitterness or flavor, I do truly enjoy an ale full of hop aroma. Has anyone experimented a bit to find out which technique brings about the most hop aroma? If you think a combination of the poll options bring about the best aroma, please elaborate. And if you steep...how long?

Thanks in advance!


Monk

[oblivious]

I have seen on basic brew that to pour a little warm water over your hops about 5-10 minutes before you dry hop to help bring out there aroma.

[deadlydes]

you have missed the option of the hopback. it works wonders

[bitter_dave]

I've tried various combinations, and I've found steeping works best for me, alongside an addition at about 15 mins left of the boil.

[subsub]

Steeping & Dry Hopping

[mysterio]

I boil the hops for maybe 10 seconds to get them broken up a bit and then let them steep while cooling. If you dont get good hop aroma doing this then you need to use more, I'll typically steep about 60 grams per 5 gallons.

[BarryNL]

you have missed the option of the hopback. it works wonders

I assume this needs to be done with hot wort so is a problem for those using coil style wort chillers, or is hop-backing cold wort also effective?

[oblivious]

What about putting the hops in as the immersion chiller is statred, should lock in some of the aroma?

[louthepoo]

If you're dry hopping can you just put them in a musliN bag and drop them in a corni?

[KeithS]

If you're dry hopping can you just put them in a musliN bag and drop them in a corni?

Ideally with some fairly large weight (I use loadsa glass marbles) to keep them sunk below the surface. Otherwise CO2 will be trapped, causing them to float.
I tend to dry hop in the secondary only, but if you're sure your brew will be drunk within a couple of weeks of barrelling I don't see any problem.

Keith

[oblivious]

When dry hopping my latest IPA I poured a little hot water over the hop, I could smell aroma coming of them as I added the hops to the carboy.

[steve_flack]

Cooling the whole of your wort really quickly after the boil retains a lot more of the aroma/flavour from late additions

[ColinKeb]

you have missed the option of the hopback. it works wonders

whats a hop back?

[Barley Water]

I get really good results dry hopping in the secondary. I use pellets and I just chuck them in, no muslim bag or anything. I then just rack the beer into my keg (I maybe get a little residue in the first glass or two but it is a small price to pay for the great aroma). I have been toying with the idea of building a hop back, does anybody have experience with this?

A couple of years ago, I built a "randall". This is the invention of the Dogfish Head guys for getting fresh hop aroma and flavor. I really did it to have something to talk about at a homebrew club party (hitting on the chicks at the party was not getting us anywhere so this was a diversion). Anyway, what you do is get a canister water filter from your local hardware store and pull the filter element out and replace it with fresh hops. I plumbed mine up so I could insert the thing in my kegerator between the keg and faucet. I have a jocky box I take to serve beer at these parties so I just plug it in between the box and the keg. It was kind of fun to watch the beer go through this thing since the filter body is made from clear plastic. It really does put a fresh hop flavor and aroma on the beer.

We are having our club summer party this weekend and I think I will take this thing to entertain the kiddies. The host grows his own hops so I can just pick them right off the vine for maximum fresh effect, should be fun.

[Matt]

you have missed the option of the hopback. it works wonders

whats a hop back?

Hopback info