Hop Back design recommendations

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bigrichlock
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Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by bigrichlock » Sun Dec 16, 2012 4:24 pm

I've been using the HopRocket i have for dry hoping, little solar pump on the outlet of the fv connected to the HopRocket with 100g of hops in it and then circulate as slow as i can get the pump to run for 3 days, i got the idea a few months back after listening to the Brewing Network Sierra Nevada podcast when they were discussing dry hoping for their beer Torpedo they used hop leaf in an external vessel that looked like a Torpedo hence the beer name. i think Stone Brewery do some thing similar as Mitch Steele (another Brewing Network Podcast) has talked about 3 circulations over 3 days.

I have had good results so far.

Rich

brodington

Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by brodington » Wed Jan 02, 2013 5:07 pm

I have my plan, my pump is ordered I have got a snap lock PP tub like befuddler showed above.

My questions:

Is this going to be under pressure?

before or after the pump?

Does it matter where my inlet and outlet are placed?

Do I want to 'squirt' or spray the wort in or is a dribble better?

Do I user my flame out hops or another addition?

Thanks for any help.

Looking forward to trying this.

boingy

Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by boingy » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:29 pm

I have a stainless spaghetti storage jar awaiting some conversion work. I plan a tank connector each end and a central mesh filter, made from perforated tube. When I will get round to it is anyone's guess.

If you are building a tupperware version, watch out for heat softening the plastic and keep the pressure/flow low. It would not take much to leak round the seal.

Edit: corrected typo
Last edited by boingy on Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Belter

Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by Belter » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:41 pm

I was tempted to buy the 6L thermopot on here for a hop back design but after looking at my current pot I'm not sure how I'd fit a filter to the lid. damn

boingy

Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by boingy » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:47 pm

Not sure you really need an insulated pot but the lid does seal.

Belter

Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by Belter » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:51 pm

boingy wrote:Not sure you really need an insulated pot but the lid does seal.
that was it. it'd be cheap and it would seal

Deller12

Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by Deller12 » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:36 pm

Sorry this may be a daft question but you explain the advantages of using a hop rocket over dry hopping and late hop additions ? Is it to stop hop debris getting into the fermenter ?

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seymour
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Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by seymour » Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:16 pm

Deller12 wrote:Sorry this may be a daft question but you explain the advantages of using a hop rocket over dry hopping and late hop additions ? Is it to stop hop debris getting into the fermenter ?
It's just different. I sometimes dry-hop and I sometimes use a hop-back. I guess mine is technically a "Randallizer" or whatever because I use it cool, after fermentation on the way to the bottling bucket, as opposed to hot after the boil kettle. I get really big, fresh, floral aromas of hops without the risk of cloudy, vegetal, brocolli stew essence I sometimes get from lengthier dry-hopping (especially in higher alcohol beers, which act as a stronger solvent.)

That is entirely my personal experience and personal opinion, I'm sure other members will have very different reasoning.

bigrichlock
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Re: Hop Back design recommendations

Post by bigrichlock » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:08 am

Deller 12,

Im hot sure advantages is the right word, its more about the final attributes of the beer, the best ways to describe it is by looking at a comparison.

Brewdog use dryhopping to excess and produce very flavor-sum in your face type beers. Thornbridge on the other hand don't dryhop they just use a Hopnik which is a type of hopback and produce beers with a massive lovely aroma but a bit more restrained and less in your face.

You can get more aroma from dryhopping but you can also get other less desirable off flavors as well, again its all down to process and selecting the right process for what you want to achieve?

Rich

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