Adding hops to keg....

I put them in a medium grain bag (cheese cloth) and drop it in the keg. You want to use a bigger bag than you think is necessary to maximize exposure. I use pellets, which expand quite a bit, so they also need room to grow. I get a bit of hop sediment in the keg, but that clears up pretty quickly after the first pint or two. I usually transfer the beer to another keg after a week or so to avoid the off flavors that I get when I leave them in too long (others say it ain't so. it's so for me, and that's what's important ...to me)

 

I use a weighted hop bag, attached to a length of dental floss that is also tied to the outside of the keg. The floss passes between the keg lid and the keg lid opening. The floss is used to pull the bag after the desired dry hop time.

 

With whole (bagged and weighted) hops, and cold storage, I've never had an issue with grassy flavors. If you do, pull them, or trasfer.

 

I use a hop bag that you can get at your LHBS. Fine mesh bag with a drawstring. I try and use only leaf hops, but occasionally have to use pellet.

Leaf is your friend in the keg if you can swing it.

I don't weight my bag down, never noticed a difference of when I did or didn't to be honest. Toss 'em in the keg, purge it well, I turn it upside down for a little while to make sure the hops get really wet and soaked down. I think this is key. I don't leave it that way for fear of a leak, but atleast for 30 minutes while I'm still around working.

Room temp for a week, and then I put it in the keezer and chill down, carb it, and drink it. I haven't gotten any grassy notes, but in the case that I find I'm not drinking that particular beer fast enough, I'll pull the hops and purge keg. I hate to do it though, because you lose some aroma there!

I suspend the bag via the string on the bag, with a SS hose clamp to the top of the PRV of the lid. Open lid and pull up and out comes the bag o hops!

 

I use Vikeman's technique . . . but when ready to pull 'em, I do a keg-to-keg transfer. One more keg to clean/prepare but eliminates a step where the evils of oxygen can be introduced.

 

I do the weighted down mesh bag and floss method for 5-7 days at 55f-65f. I flip and gently shake keg 2 times per 24 hr period (allow it to stand upside down for 10 minutes or so). I let it rest 24hr before removing hops. Then I put in kegerator and carb. One time I wasn't able to remove the hop sack so I left it in the keg while drinking (up to 1 month) and didn't notice any changes or issues with that (although I don't do this regularly). I use pellets 100% of the time for various reasons but mostly because research says they out perform leaf and are way more stable. For medium hop aroma I use about 2oz/5gal, for hop bombs I use 4-5.5oz/5gal. I eventually cut or bent the end of the dip tube (1/2" to allow for extra sediment/hop matter, usually the beer is ready on first pour.

 

Pellets and a big teaball. I just drop it in and drink quickly.

 

I use the same thing. From the same store too I bet. I cut a little off my dip tube and use it as insurance. Never had anything but clear beer but also use a bag and leaf hops.

 

How much is the dip tube strainer?

 

I have a bag of hops in there right now. I bought 18 2 gallon paint strainer bags. Filled one with hops, leaf and whole, as well as a SS hex bushing for weight. Zip tied the top closed. Tied it off with waxless, flavorless, flat dental floss that goes under the lid oring and ties to the lid handle. At garage temps on CO2 carbing and DH at same time. I will put it in the fridge at week's end, and pour on Saturday for Teach A Friend. Kegged late Friday night and poured a sample after church today, the aroma is amazing already.

 

I used to have one that I put over my plastic racking cane to filter out trub when transferring. Then I broke the racking cane and replaced it with a SS one, and the tube size was a little bigger and the device didn't fit. If I can relocate it, maybe I'll try it on a my pickup tune. I didn't keg back when I first used it, so never thought about the possibility.

 

I use something like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Large-Jumbo-Size-Twist-Lock-Infuser-Stainless/dp/B004X4LGIO

Works great. I've got some citra floating around in an otherwise all NZ hopped IPA right now and it's freaking awesome.

 

So this works well with pellet hops in the keg??

 

Sorry, should have specified. I've only used leaf hops. I don't know how pellets would work. If I were going to use pellets I'd probably wrap them in cheesecloth as well as use the strainer.

 

Yea I would imagine "double bagging" would be wise for that device with pellets. I need to order that thing.

 

Yeah, I have one of those too and they work great for whole hops. You'll want to put the pellets in a cheese cloth before putting them in the strainer. I found one for $6 at a World Market/Cost Plus store.