Typically I throw my hops in the boil without a muslin bag. Once the wort cools, I funnel everything into the primary carboy (except for the obvious muck left over at the bottom of the pot). However, a lot of hop trub still goes into the carboy. This is rather obnoxious when bottling/kegging (when I do not do secondary). Does anybody use anyything to limit this hop trub transfer? Something like a mesh bag below the funnel or something? Thanks!
One of these nested in your funnel should do the trick... http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/double-mesh-stainless-strainer.html
Nylon paint strainer bags are good, I pick up a case of the 5 gallon size every few months for this purpose.
I use my paint strainers repeatedly. Are they that cheep where you buy them that you throw them away? Mine are made of nylon. I also use these for my hop additions.
I used a strainer like that but without the handle for a couple years. It was a pain in the ass when I didn't have anyone around when it came time for straining. Then I gave in and bought the one you posted. It was worth every penny and then some. Much easier when it comes to brewing by myself.
They work out to around $1/each when purchased in bulk. I sometimes reuse mine if they don't look too beat up after the boil, but at a buck a piece its a pretty modest investment. If I'm doing a beer with many/several hop additions I will often pull the bag out, untie it and add the next addition but I'm not sure its worth trying to untie a scalding hot nylon bag.
I use this strainer and a paint strainer bag. The one pain in the ass with the bag is with super hoppy beers it will clog up easily. I've ended up with a gallon or more of wort stuck in the bag. What I have to do is lift the bag out of the fermenter and push on the bag with a spoon to get the rest of the wort out. If you are prepared for this and have sanatized your hands and something to push against the bag its not a problem but still is a pain.
Yeah, I bought a couple packs of them to start off with, thinking they might tear or whatnot. Still on the first one after a dozen batches.
I use a paint strainer bag with every batch now. Incredibly low trub now in all batches. Makes super clear beers with primary only batches too. I just starsan my hands and squeeze out the wort. No problems at all.
I use hop bags and also a nylon fine filter (looks like a giant hair net that goes over the primary) that I put/use when I poor into my primary from my kettle, I get no hop trub at all...
I like whirfloc better than regular irish moss. If nothing else, it doesn't need to be rehydrated prior to use.
Not much for hop trub but I do think I may try them to help with other items in suspension to get a little clearer beer. Think I may order them when I get the nibs...
I used to have this problem and chose to get a big kettle with a spigot. Now I whirlpool the beer and let it sit for about 15 mins before using the immersion chiller. I use Irish moss too, which creates a nice protein mass at the middle, along with hop particles, and then use the spigot to empty into the fermenter. The splashing from the spigot is good aeration too! I really am liking this method since using it.
