Weighing down a hop bag

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Beanstalk
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Weighing down a hop bag

Post by Beanstalk » Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:19 am

Hi Folks,

Any thoughts on handy inert household items that could hold down a hop bag? They're surprisingly buoyant.

I've tried marbles and shot glass but they don't cut it. II though about the heavy stainless still fitting that sits on the overflow pipe form the grainfather, would that be suitable?

monkeyboy
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by monkeyboy » Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:35 pm

I had a similar problem a few years ago and I can tell you that whatever you do, under no circumstances should you google for 'metal ball weights'...

Some places sell large stainless ball bearings. I think I ended up using a heavy mug I had lying around, but it didn't really work that well.
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Meatymc
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by Meatymc » Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:03 pm

Assuming you're talking about dry hopping in the FV, I use bags of glass beads bought at Dunelm - you'll need 2 bags from my experience. Bag and tie is plastic so you can simply give them a good rinse after use - I then keep them in a Star San solution until the next time.

Don't ever boil them to sanitise though as they can shatter!

Beanstalk
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by Beanstalk » Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:26 pm

alright thanks folks!

Kingfisher4
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by Kingfisher4 » Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:40 pm

Meatymc wrote:
Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:03 pm
Assuming you're talking about dry hopping in the FV, I use bags of glass beads bought at Dunelm - you'll need 2 bags from my experience. Bag and tie is plastic so you can simply give them a good rinse after use - I then keep them in a Star San solution until the next time.

Don't ever boil them to sanitise though as they can shatter!
They work well, as advised above. My local Dunelm did not have them in stock, but were extremely helpful getting them in. Maybe give them a ring before you make the journey?

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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by wezzel01 » Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:24 pm

We’ve got loads of stainless steel tea spoons so I chuck a handful of those in.

I put them in the hop bag and boil the bag and spoons for 10 or 15 minutes first to sterilise.


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Mr Squiffy
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by Mr Squiffy » Mon Jan 07, 2019 9:11 pm

Large glass paperweight, heavy and easy to clean and sanitised.

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HTH1975
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by HTH1975 » Mon Jan 07, 2019 11:40 pm

I use two lead-crystal glasses, but should really find something stainless steel and heavy

WalesAles
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by WalesAles » Mon Apr 29, 2019 7:57 pm

A tin of beans is good! :D

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nigelnorris
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by nigelnorris » Wed May 01, 2019 6:37 pm

Why do they need to weighed down?

RobP
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by RobP » Wed May 01, 2019 6:57 pm

Marbles work fine, you just need enough of them.

WalesAles
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by WalesAles » Wed May 01, 2019 8:12 pm

nigelnorris wrote:
Wed May 01, 2019 6:37 pm
Why do they need to weighed down?
nige,
Try it with no weights.
Please report back on the outcome. :D

WA

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Meatymc
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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by Meatymc » Wed May 01, 2019 8:47 pm

WalesAles wrote:
Wed May 01, 2019 8:12 pm
nige,
Try it with no weights.
Please report back on the outcome. :D
WA
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Ignore him Nige - he's evil :twisted:

You weigh them down otherwise they float on the surface and you don't get the benefit of all the hops - only those in direct contact with the beer. I've just removed 50g of chinook - took a bag of glass beads plus 10 ounce scale weights to keep it below the surface.

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Re: Weighing down a hop bag

Post by wezzel01 » Wed May 01, 2019 10:40 pm

I chuck in half a dozen stainless steel teaspoons. For some reason we’ve got loads of them. I boil them with the hop bags for 10 minutes to sterilise them.


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