Hop filter

[darkonnis]

After the recent failing of my hop filter (which did a fantastic job) I'm in need of a new one. Something which above all else must be easy to clean as that was the downfall of the last one (that and leaving 3 - 9L of beer in the kettle)

The old one:


Wondered what everyone else was using and if anyone had any ideas?
Cheers,
Cooky

[Martin G]

I've enjoyed my 'temporary' grain bag for hopping but do fancy making or buying a hop basket that can sit in the boiler. After a few blockages I like the idea of it being removable!

[darkonnis]

Hops aren't really the problem, the amount of crap that settles out during recirculation pretty much clogs the filters the nthe hops form a layer on top which then makes a sludgey hoppy screen blocking the filter completely. I'm wondering how much utilisation you'd get with a basket, might be better with those large mesh tea balls?

[Befuddler]

Without going to a bottom drain, I think this design is the best I've seen:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/home-brew-ful ... 460f626f2c

Mine is a sort of slapdash home-made version of the same thing, using a stainless mesh pouch.

[NeedsMoreHops]

I have gradually been hacking together my brew gear based on experimental small batches and information I have gleaned from 'tinterweb. I only have 2 full sized all grains under my belt, but I am delighted with my implementation of the hop filter, even if is a little heath robinson (picture at the bottom of the post hopefully) so will offer my twopenneth anyway
It is essentially a copper elbow (solder ring) pushed onto the tail of the tap pipe that enters the boiler and angled down slightly. A plumbing stick (with holes in) is inserted into this and bent to the bottom of the boiler and round the inside edge. An end cap (solder ring) is then pushed onto the end with a couple of additional holes in.
This filters beautifully and leaves the hops (leaf) and nasty putty-like stuff firmly in the boiler. Although i use a sieve when transferring to the fermenter, I have not had to catch anything in it yet.
The solder ring fittings are a snug fit to the pipes and do not come off during the boil, but it is easy to take apart and therefore a doddle to clean.


Cheers

[Martin G]

Hops aren't really the problem, the amount of crap that settles during recirculation pretty much clogs the filters the nthe hops form a layer on top which then makes a sludgey hoppy screen blocking the filter completely. I'm wondering how much utilisation you'd get with a basket, might be better with those large mesh tea balls?

Yep, hard to know how well a basket would work, the balls are a good idea, maybe for late hops. The bags work surprisingly well, no noticable problem with utilisation at leaving to settle really helps to clear up, but they aren't shiny! The bag is certainly a good interim if not final solution.

[orlando]

Hi Cooky, a perennial problem and one I have experimented a little with and what I have come up with is a combination of 3 things. As you know the problem is balancing clarity versus speed of run off. I have a slotted copper manifold a hop sock specially made for it and protafloc granules, it's the method of deploying these that makes the difference. If I am using rather more wheat than usual I only use the manifold with no more than 1/2 a teaspoon of protafloc. If a dark beer again I don't worry about using the manifold sock and will use the protafloc as usual. If it is a pale ale I use the sock and a little more than usual of the protafloc granules.

Probably superfluous but here is a picture:



If there is a downside it is that I do leave behind about 1.5 to 2 litres of wort, plus of course hop absorption, but merely adjust the liquour volumes to compensate.

[barneey]

Personally as mentioned I dont think you can go far wrong with a Garth style filter, whether it be an ebay one, a deller ring or a circular ring with a fine mesh.

I still have to trial the external filter tube I have from the brewershardwear store, although at this rate Highlander will more than likely test it first

[Belter]

I have a Deller style one. Very similar to the homebrewbuilder one above. I haven't tried it with hops yet but with water it barely leaves any liquid behind.

[darkonnis]

I did see the deller ring and I had contemplated it, the only reason I haven't is because it looks like a nightmare to clean and if it doesn't clean easily/well then its not really any good unfortunately.
I used to use a bit of copper pipe when i started, its fine for counter flows and IC's but i'd be wary of using it with a plate chiller, the risk of bits getting caught is.... not great.

That said, a combination of what NMH's and orlandos designs could work nicely and I do just happen to have some copper tubing...

[Deller12]

I did see the deller ring and I had contemplated it, the only reason I haven't is because it looks like a nightmare to clean and if it doesn't clean easily/well then its not really any good unfortunately.
I used to use a bit of copper pipe when i started, its fine for counter flows and IC's but i'd be wary of using it with a plate chiller, the risk of bits getting caught is.... not great.

That said, a combination of what NMH's and orlandos designs could work nicely and I do just happen to have some copper tubing...

Mine is a piece of cake to clean just give it a blast with the hose job done

[darkonnis]

How big is yours please deller? something like that would be good if its as easy to clean as you say, but I reckon I'd likely need a bigger surface area

[orlando]

I used to use a bit of copper pipe when i started, its fine for counter flows and IC's but i'd be wary of using it with a plate chiller, the risk of bits getting caught is.... not great.

Not my experience to be honest, I use a plate chiller as you know, and have never had a problem with it. If using whole hop flowers the manifold is enough to catch the big bits, if using the sock the mesh is so fine even when using pellets it's not a problem. Playing with the amount of protafloc used was the final piece of the jigsaw, less for when I use the mesh a little more when not. It's about getting the hops and trub to form their own filter after it has been "combined" by the protafloc.

[a-slayer]

Hi Cooky, a perennial problem and one I have experimented a little with and what I have come up with is a combination of 3 things. As you know the problem is balancing clarity versus speed of run off. I have a slotted copper manifold a hop sock specially made for it and protafloc granules, it's the method of deploying these that makes the difference. If I am using rather more wheat than usual I only use the manifold with no more than 1/2 a teaspoon of protafloc. If a dark beer again I don't worry about using the manifold sock and will use the protafloc as usual. If it is a pale ale I use the sock and a little more than usual of the protafloc granules.

Probably superfluous but here is a picture:



If there is a downside it is that I do leave behind about 1.5 to 2 litres of wort, plus of course hop absorption, but merely adjust the liquour volumes to compensate.

Copper manifold with a bag over it,exactly the same as my system and never ever get any trouble draining, as for the bit of wort left I just pour it out into a sanitized jug and let it settle out and then tip it carefully in the FV.

[Deller12]

How big is yours please deller? something like that would be good if its as easy to clean as you say, but I reckon I'd likely need a bigger surface area

I have an 150mm diameter open area on my set of rings