Hop spider or not

Hop bags are a necessity then...what kind of bags are you using and how many boils have they been through? Are you using whole cone or pellets? My CFC clogged once when I thought hop bags were overkill. Sounds like your method works, but I wouldn't make a habit out of it...imho. cheers

 

This was my exact thought! I only use those for whirlpool or hopstand hop additions once the wort is under boiling temp. For boiling additions I only use the cotton mesh bags or it's no bag at all. Paint straining definitely does not have to be food grade or safe for human consumption

 

I just didnt tie it well enough. it didnt actually break...

 

I use a ss hop spider. For late hop additions I actually swirl the spider with the hops around the boil and take it out frequently to drain/press on the hops. Seems to work pretty well. Have actually reduced the amount of hops I put in it as I was finding that when the hops were getting fully saturated to the point they were swelling and compressing within the spider cylinder, it appeared to me that the utilization was going down. Have not clogged my pump since using the hop spider and would not go back to that disassembling-backpumping 1 hour extension of my brew day. I also have moved to strictly using hop shots for bittering additions so the hops spider is only for my late/burst additions.