Getting dry hops to drop in warm weather

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by celeriac, Jul 12, 2013.

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  1. celeriac

    celeriac Crusader (484) Oct 21, 2008 Massachusetts

    So... I am having a problem that I have had once before, and wonder if anyone has any clever solutions or words of wisdom. About a week ago, I dry-hopped a brew with pellet hops, no bag. Usually, I have no problem with this technique -- after a few days, the pellets settle to the bottom of the carboy and I can rack off the top cleanly. However, in this case the hops are continuing to float on the surface--my guess is that it has to do with my ambient temps, which are in the low 70s, whereas my ambient temps other times of year tend to be in the 60s. I've tried gently agitating and swirling, and the hops briefly seem like them might drop and settle, but then they rise again.

    Besides plunging the carboy into a water bath with rotating ice packs/bags of ice... any suggestions for how to get the hops to settle out?
     
    #1 celeriac, Jul 12, 2013
  2. epk

    epk Pundit (849) Jun 10, 2008 New Jersey

    Leave them, you rack from under them anyway.
     
    #2 epk, Jul 12, 2013
  3. barfdiggs

    barfdiggs Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2011 California

    If you really need it to drop, add Biofine. It'll drop them within 24 hours.

    Alternatively, rack out from underneath the mat of pellet goo.
     
    #3 barfdiggs, Jul 12, 2013
  4. Elatowski

    Elatowski Initiate (0) Nov 23, 2009 Michigan

    #4 Elatowski, Jul 12, 2013
    fuzzbalz, leedorham and bgramer like this.
  5. bgramer

    bgramer Initiate (0) Feb 10, 2006 Washington


    I use this exact thing to keep the bottom-floating fruit out when I rack my sours from secondary into the bottling bucket. It helps to have a rubber band hold the strainer in place. Keep the bag loosely wrapped, when its wrapped tightly around the siphon, the fruit will come right up to the opening and block the flow.
     
    #5 bgramer, Jul 12, 2013
    Beerontwowheels likes this.
  6. tbm882

    tbm882 Initiate (0) Aug 25, 2007 New York

    I recently had the same issue and used a sterilized metal strainer, which worked, but was not ideal and i would not recommend. I like the idea of these elastic strainers for the syphon. Are these typically one use? Sterilized as you would any other equipment? Any issues with the rate of flow if there are a lot of particulates(assuming you've wrapped the bag loosely)?
     
    #6 tbm882, Jul 12, 2013
  7. celeriac

    celeriac Crusader (484) Oct 21, 2008 Massachusetts

    Thanks guys. I'm not wild about just rack from under because I recall having less clean results the last time I tried that. I will give those strainers a try--appreciate the input.
     
    #7 celeriac, Jul 12, 2013
  8. sjverla

    sjverla Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2008 Massachusetts

    The one time I did it I boiled for about 5 minutes. I've said this in other threads, but if you use a carboy and it gets jammed in the neck, don't force it out. You'll get a streak of hop particulate and trub across your kitchen (and your face).
     
    #8 sjverla, Jul 13, 2013
    Elatowski and tbm882 like this.
  9. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    I lightly hit the fermenter with the pinky side of my first several times and it causes the hops to fall out ..
     
    #9 jncastillo87, Jul 14, 2013
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