27 replies to this topic

[Hines]

I've brewed off & on for the better part of 8 years, yet I have never dry hopped in the keg.

 

Last night I kegged a brew and it was pretty non-descript (I used old grain and older hops).  I'm guessing I could go home today and drop a half ounce or so of hops in a nylon and let it sit in there for a few days.  Should I take it out of the kegerator?

[positiveContact]

I've done some really late dry hopping before (months after the beer has been in the keg).  you can warm it up, or not.  you get some different things out of the hops depending on temperature.  once the yeast is mostly dropped out i'm not sure it matters how long it's been.

[neddles]

My limited experience. I have had no luck fixing a meh beer with dry hops. Only tried it once but it didn't help at all. Also, I have dry hopped kegs several times and it has worked very well to boost flavor from a beer where the hops are fading. I have only ever done it warm though. My approach would be to let the keg sit at room temp. for about 3 days after dry hopping it and then chill again. Sometimes it can be a bit harsh at first and might need a few days in the cold to settle down again, probably depends on how much dry hops were added. At this point I have always just left the hops on the bag in the keg until the keg kicks. Never noticed any off flavors from doing this. 

[Hines]

Interesting.

So Ettels if you were going to try this you would just throw your hops in a bag and drop them in the keg and not bother taking them out?

[realbeerguy]

I dry hop in the keg.  Hop bag suspended about 1/4 way down from the top.  Secure thru lid with unwaxed, unscented dental floss.

[positiveContact]

Interesting.

So Ettels if you were going to try this you would just throw your hops in a bag and drop them in the keg and not bother taking them out?

 

i'll let him answer with his experience but this is pretty much all I do now.  every time i've considered taking the hops out i didn't bother b/c any initial harshness just went away on it's own.  now i just plan on leaving them in there.

[denny]

i'll let him answer with his experience but this is pretty much all I do now.  every time i've considered taking the hops out i didn't bother b/c any initial harshness just went away on it's own.  now i just plan on leaving them in there.

 

Exactly what I do, too.  Sometimes the dry hops stay in 2-3 months.

[neddles]

Interesting.

So Ettels if you were going to try this you would just throw your hops in a bag and drop them in the keg and not bother taking them out?

Yeah. Like I said about 3 days at room temp then back to the kegerator. Like realbeerguy, I have heard a lot of people say they like to secure the bag. I haven't (yet) found a reason to do this. I should add my experience is with pellets only if that makes any difference.

[Hines]

Yeah I just have pellets.  My initial thought was to mash the pellets to help the process a little bit, but ultimatly, i'm guessing it won't make a difference.

It has been settled, putting in a bag, tethering the bag with a little floss, and leaving it in there for the duration.

 

Thanks everyone!

[Poptop]

I've added (on occasion) up to an ounce of pellets in one of my wife's nylons to the keg, hanging it about 1/2 way down and tied off with unwaxed floss too.  I've never taken it out - only after the keg has emptied.  Works well imho.

[neddles]

Has anyone had a problem caused by not tethering the bag to the lid (or elsewhere) and just letting the bag float free?

[HVB]

Has anyone had a problem caused by not tethering the bag to the lid (or elsewhere) and just letting the bag float free?

 

I have used tea balls and have let them "free ball" and not had an issue.  I can see an issue if the bag gets lodged on the diptube having an issue but if you do not disturb the keg you should be OK.

[Poptop]

I've never head of anyone having problems with "free bagging"

[matt6150]

Has anyone had a problem caused by not tethering the bag to the lid (or elsewhere) and just letting the bag float free?

I am going to find out about this very soon. I kegged a beer last night that needed a little something extra. So I threw a ounce of pellets in in a bag not tethered of. I didn't really have anything on hand and was in a hurry so I just went for it. Time will tell.

[Poptop]

You're going to be fine but please keep us posted.

[positiveContact]

i do not tether anything.  just put them in your filter device of choice and chuck em in there!

[neddles]

Yeah the whole reason I was asking was because after just throwing the bag into float freely several times I have had no problems. But I have heard of people going to great lengths to tether the bag (or filter device, as theguv called it) so I wondered why.

[positiveContact]

Yeah the whole reason I was asking was because after just throwing the bag into float freely several times I have had no problems. But I have heard of people going to great lengths to tether the bag (or filter device, as theguv called it) so I wondered why.

 

some use bags, tea balls, hop screens, nylons, dirty diapers.

[HVB]

dirty diapers.

 

Only with my brett beers.  it really brings out the flavors.

[Poptop]

Not to mention the extra calculation for increased absorbtion

drezz, if you're home, go check the front door :0