finishing hops

[Gjb123]

Hi i have a coopers orignal series lager kit that i want to tweek .I posted a message yesterday asking about it and was told to use light spray malt and dry hop with saaz hops, well i have been given a t-bag of morgans finishing hops (hallertau 12 grams)can anyone tell me if adding this to the fv during fermention will make a lot of difference and if not can i add extra hops ( i was thinking of boiling 5-10 grams into the wort for 10 mins) as well .Thanks in advance for any help . Gary

[stevezx7r]

It depends on what end result your after. If you want to make the beer more bitter you can make a hop tea (if you have a caffatiere these work well), add near boiling water and leave for at least 30 mins then add the liquor to the fermenting beer. If you want more taste from the hops you can do the same but only leave it for, say, 10 mins. If you want more arome/some flavour just dry hop the bag once primary fermentation is complete as adding it too soon wont have the same effect.

[boingy]

Caffatiere! Genius idea. Perfect for the job, and bleedin' obvious now that I think about it!

[KevP]

Its a top tip, and something I read about from somewhere a couple of weeks ago, makes it so much easier!

[Gjb123]

Hi stevezx7r , thanks i will try that. Gary

[Wolfdog]

Just read this thread, what a fine idea!! I am planning to make a muntons midas touch next and split it in to two FV's and try adding some styrians hops as I want to try to achive something near to Wychwood wychcraft, this was on the advice of Garth. Now im totally new to this brew ur own so this next question may sound as dumb as i think it does, but, anyway, does dry hoping mean you just put the hops into the mash "dry in the bag" so to speak?...

[Garth]

yep, sanitise then rinse the bag, the hops are naturally antispetic so need no attention

bung 'em in

[Wolfdog]

Cheers Garth! thanks 4 your help mate! I may/will need more advice the deeper I get into brewin' speakin of which, how much styrians would you add to half a kit?

[Garth]

for perking up the bitterness?

or adding aroma or flavour?

[Wolfdog]

adding aroma & flavour!

[Garth]

if it's half a kit I assume you mean about 12 -13 litres?

use maybe 20g for a 10min steep for some extra flavour

maybe 10 -15g for dry hopping for some extra aroma

as you're not adding much or any bitterness it doesn't really matter with the amounts

[Wolfdog]

Fantastic Garth! this is a grate help!!!! I intend on spliting the kit, doing half by the book, then the other half tweek't, following your advice re hops to achive a wychwood twist to the brew. then I can compair the two brews
I will hopfully be able to start the brew in about a week or so when I can use the FV to mix it up in.
would you add the steep't hops prior to adding yeast? having read the thread the dry hops goes in after first fermentation, but for how long? sorry to keep hassleing you Garth, but you are giving me loads to work with here!
Many thanks for your continued help!!!

[Garth]

steeped hops added while you are making the kit up before adding the yeast

the dry hops need to added in a hop bag or tea ball to the barrel or cask for about a week before you start drinking it, it's up to you how long you leave them in there, some folk say they start imparting a grassy type taste when left for a long time.

I've just got three 65mm stainless teaballs, they are much bigger than the ones I had previous, and quite cheap as well.

here's the linky Teaballs

[Wolfdog]

Garth, your a star mate!! Will let you know how things go.
Seriousley, thanks for your help mate.
Heres to a fine brew!!! Cheers!

[WishboneBrewery]

I've just got three 65mm stainless teaballs, they are much bigger than the ones I had previous, and quite cheap as well.
here's the linky Teaballs

Sorry, I just bought those... its a darn good idea