Hop Straining Device Help

I have a double bazooka screen. If I just use whole leaf it's perfect, if I use pellets I use a homemade hop spider with a paint strainer bag. The bags are less than $1 each, so I just throw them away when I'm done.

I do pump and recirculate the wort also.

 

Could also eliminate an oz or so every batch by using hop extract for bittering charge instead of pellets.

 

Seriously try the silk screen silk material; I am not sure of the micron rating but it is fine as hell and allows very little hop particulate into your kettle; what little amount gets InThe kettle is easily whirlpooled as to Not make it Into to the fermenter.

Need to sew your own bags or line an existing bag, but it works quite well.

@jkbakajust1- sounds like you have an issue with your immersion chiller and hop spider combo; I would look into modifying this set up to work together to suit your needs; or just go the CF chiller and pump route.

 

How well would a false bottom work? I'd love to use whole hops exclusively and not worry about my pumps and whatnot.

Would you need to recirculate during the boil to prevent any scorch would would you think there's enough movement from the boil alone to keep that from happening ?

 

When brewing larger batches with two buddies, we use a false bottom. It works incredibly well.

 

I use this stainless steel mesh strainer: http://arborfab.com. I thought It was a steep price to pay until I got a plate chiller and have never had a clog or pellet hops make it into my fermenter during transfer. Cleans easily and is well made. There is some debate about how it affects hop utilization but I can't say I have noticed a difference. I love using it for whirlpool additions because the wort passes over the hops continually during the recirculation. Maybe the most convenient feature is not having to coax wort through a funnel filter after chilling. It takes a lot of the worry away for me. I hope you find what works for you.