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Trying to finalize some things for my single tier 3 vessel build. I've been reading a fair bit, and while Ive found a fair bit of conversation on the subject not too much in the way of results/feedback.

I'm wondering what people are using to help with filtering out hops/etc in their BK? I'm doing an electric setup so I don't think whirlpooling will be of too much help, my other vessels will be TriClamp bottom drain so I've been leaning towards that for the BK with a false bottom perhaps? I foresee using pellet hops, but ideally don't want to limit myself. I will be chilling with a typical DIY CFC.

The most popular option seems to be the hop stopper? Although it would be a bit tricky to implement with bottom drain and/or tri-clamp (I'm not anti-threads, but all the other vessel connections are tri-clamp currently)

Any advice would be appreciated.

If you're going to use something, I'd go with a hop spider. I personally stopped using anything because I find it decreases utilization and it's just as easy to transfer everything into the fermenter. Basic brewing (I think) did a test where they had people brew a batch and transfer the first half of the batch to a fermenter as clean as possible, then dump the rest in the second fermenter. They then did side by side tastings and no negatives were found from the "dirty" brew. If I remember correctly, it also seemed like it resulted in better head and a generally better beer..

But back to the question. I've tried a few different methods - whirlpooling, hop filters on the dip tube, hop spiders and haven't been happy with any of them. The only advantage of the hop spider is that it's easier to deal with rather than having hops stuck in the bottom of the boil kettle preventing you from draining your wort.

Thanks for the info.

I forgot to mention a hop spider, I've been back and forth on that one. I think because its so simple (and it doesn't fit everything else that is overly elaborate...haha)

I'm not too concerned with it in the fermenter (as what you mentioned appears to be a fairly common consensus). Although I'm not crazy about pumping all that sludge through everything, seems like it would be worth trying to avoid.

http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you'll be using a CFC you won't have to worry about pellet hops clogging it. You'd still have to bag or filter leaf hops though. A false bottom will work for that as well.

I bottom drain and CFC. There's a bit of hop sludge at the end but it's no big deal at all. I clean in place and flush my system with water / oxyclean / starsan after and it cleans right up.

The only reason I want to filter trub or hops is to have more room in the fermentor since I'm using 23L plastic carboy bottles.

I have a bazooka screen from obk.
I haven't tried it yet without a hop spider yet as I'm afraid it would clog my plate chiller

sleepyjamie wrote:I have a bazooka screen from obk.
I haven't tried it yet without a hop spider yet as I'm afraid it would clog my plate chiller

Like our "PVC Harvest Ale". At least the hops clogged the tubing before getting to the chiller.

mr x wrote:http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61

I have access to the perf sheet and SS mesh so I was thinking about covering the FB with the mesh, but I was worried it might clog entirely. Are you still using that? Any issues with it?

I still use it and you couldn't pay me to try anything else. It works perfectly. The top row of holes are open to allow free flow of wort during recirc, as the mesh plugs with break material and hops. Once the wort has drained below those holes, I pull off the bottom ring of metal with a hook to allow the last bit of wort to drain out.

This might interest you.

http://www.canadianhomebrewers.com/view ... =28&t=1403" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RubberToe wrote:

sleepyjamie wrote:I have a bazooka screen from obk.
I haven't tried it yet without a hop spider yet as I'm afraid it would clog my plate chiller

Like our "PVC Harvest Ale". At least the hops clogged the tubing before getting to the chiller.

haha. yes but that hop filter came off when we made that sucker.

my new bazooka screen wont come off!

you guys think a bazooka screen is enough to filter out the hops for my plate chiller? or should i consider a hop spider as well.

currently im using a hop bag but the utilization is poor.

canuck wrote:This might interest you.

http://www.canadianhomebrewers.com/view ... =28&t=1403" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure with some skill and a weighted circular piece you could Jerry rig a hop spider to do almost the same thing no?

sleepyjamie wrote:you guys think a bazooka screen is enough to filter out the hops for my plate chiller? or should i consider a hop spider as well.

currently im using a hop bag but the utilization is poor.

I've never tried the bazooka, but from what I've read it will just clog with pellet hops.

I've got a new material to make custom hop socks. I'm thinking about making them sized to a kettle similar to a BIAB, but the material will be better flowing to allow for better utilization as well as proper draining when the boil is complete.

Here's a comparison of the two materials:

BIAB Material:
Hop Bag Material:

I'm thinking a bag fitted for the kettle is most appropriate and the bazooka screen for trub and solids filtering.

v1.0 of the hop bag ready for testing

looks good

looks like it works well? what's holding the material around the top of the pot?

Hoptimus Prime wrote:looks like it works well? what's holding the material around the top of the pot?

It's got an elastic sewn into the top edge of the bag.

I made a header in the bottom of BK with three bazooka screens. I currently drain the BK by gravity through my plate chiller. When using a lot of pellet hops i have to scrape them off the screens with a long handled spoon that I leave in the BK during the last 10 minutes of boil. Scraping causes some of the finer material and trub to get through but I am able to maintain a decent flow and never clog the chiller. With leaf hops it just drains nicely with no scraping involved. I'm hoping when I get a pump that I won't have to scrape.

Jimmy wrote:

Hoptimus Prime wrote:looks like it works well? what's holding the material around the top of the pot?

It's got an elastic sewn into the top edge of the bag.

did u try it out yet?

might be interested in buying one! LOL

sleepyjamie wrote:

Jimmy wrote:

Hoptimus Prime wrote:looks like it works well? what's holding the material around the top of the pot?

It's got an elastic sewn into the top edge of the bag.

did u try it out yet?

might be interested in buying one! LOL

No, haven't tried it out yet. I'll try to remember to take a video, or at least some pics when I try it out on my next brew.