New pellet hop filter review - Lautehex

[Jocky]

I use pellet hops exclusively and simply don't use filters in my boiler or fermenters.

That bit is key. Using only leaf a bazooka, mesh filter or even just some wire wool works perfectly. Using only leaf you might as well just whirlpool, let it settle and at then either don't filter or (as I have previously done) run it out with a drawstring hop bag over the end of the tubing.

But if you want complete flexibility and to use both, that's where you get stuck.

[Jocky]

I just boiled 300g of pellets in 10litre of water for 10 mins. I had to tip the boiler to get the last out as the liquor was under the hight of the tap but it left just a couple of hundred ml behind, no sign of it blocking.

Rob, what length of lauter hex do you have?

[orlando]

[Using only leaf you might as well just whirlpool, let it settle and at then either don't filter or (as I have previously done) run it out with a drawstring hop bag over the end of the tubing.

I think there are two things that would improve this immensely, first is as Jocky hints at; whirlpool. If you can recirc the wort for long enough to pile up the hop crud in the centre of the pot and (second point) have the filter as close to the pot sides as possible, it will only be picking up clear debris free wort. I notice yours is not looped around the edge so it might need to be longer than this to work. These pictures of the Brewpi version shows the ideal layout. Scroll down to see it in the pot.

[borischarlton]

I just boiled 300g of pellets in 10litre of water for 10 mins. I had to tip the boiler to get the last out as the liquor was under the hight of the tap but it left just a couple of hundred ml behind, no sign of it blocking.

Rob, what length of lauter hex do you have?

It's the 1m

[Jocky]

Ok. I have a 1m cut down to 90cm to fit in my pot. Being a tighter loop it should filter slightly less finely, but gives me confidence it will work.

I'll trial over the weekend and report back.

[phatboytall]

Great replies everyone.

Rob thanks for testing, I think you have pretty conclusively demonstrated its a great product and works well. Now I just need to figure out what is going wrong in my setup, will test with water this wknd, then simplify the connections. I also think no stirring to let it settle next time would help. Obviously your test was only water, but I cant see the protein? trub being worse than hop pellet crud.

Floyd, great information thanks! On your setup, that is just an elbow pointing at the bottom of the pot? How far does it sit off the bottom? A close up photo would be great!

[roscoe]

hi,
I too find it a major challenge in my 120L BK doing pellet batches of lovely hop heavy american style beers. I have a SS hose mesh thing and to be honest I expect the worse every time and have improved my technique to the point, touch wood it, er kinda works. I'm sure you heard them all before, these are all preferences rather than must do...

1. I try if possible to use some leaf/cones as FWH as it helps form the initial filter cover over the hose

2. After flameout, try to whirlpool manually and then leave to settle for more than 15m, more crap does settle centrally and not get pulled on top of mesh

3. Never ever run the outlet pump to the FV full pelt, throttle it back especially for first few minutes to allow stuff to act as filter covering over the mesh to occur, if I were to go full pelt using the CFC as cooler to recirc it would blind hard with pellet particles and would completely block. Probably should use capitals here......

4. I no longer use boiling wort to sanitise my CFC as using the pump out via this mesh just seems to be asking for issues.

If I end up with 100L in the BK it can take 20-30mins to transfer to FV. In desperate old times with blinding the mesh it would take a lot longer.

Last batch was >500g pellets, no cones and it transferred fine, I have a picture somewhere of the resulting mega green sludge plastered all over the mesh, amazed it transferred at all !

If I was on mission to develop/improve this I'd probably put a second outlet valve maybe 150mm up from bottom with stubby mesh and use this to preserve the lower mesh and transfer say 70% through this giving the bottom mesh more time to allow the BK contents to settle even further.....

[johnmac]

I was about to click 'buy' for a lauterhex, but then it occurred to me that removing it to clean after every brew day might be a faff with that 'T' connector?

[Jocky]

You just unscrew the spring bit and leave the t in place if you need to.

[ciderhead]

Whirlpool is the only thing that works for me with pellets

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I was always a bit hesitant to use pellets in the kettle, but my last 2 brewdays have gone great with them.

I just set up a small whirlpool with a 5 min stir of the mash paddle after the Irish moss.

15 min steep and everything has settled to the bottom.

[orlando]

I didn't see any filtering in the kettle, is that right, or is it somewhere else down the line?

[UpTheToon]

I BIAB and use a hop sock. I've had a couple of stray bits of grain/hop get in my mag pump in the past and want to add a filter. If I can hop directly (mostly pellets but also whole sometimes) into the vessel (70L pot) then that's even better.

I've currently got a pick up tube and I love being able to get down to the last litre or so without having to tip. I like the look of this spring filter but then I'll be back to having a couple of litres left. Is it going to come down to a choice between those 2 or are there any other options?

[Jocky]

Not really. If you've got a 70 litre pot then what's a couple of litres to you?

[UpTheToon]

Not really. If you've got a 70 litre pot then what's a couple of litres to you?

Think of the wastage!

If I'm doing a double batch and to get 22L in 2 fermenters then I'm on the limit of the pot for some beers. It feels like a step backwards to go back to tipping the pot.

Hop utilisation will surely be better though so I guess it'd be worth it for that...