Priming Hops

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Friday Dec 01, 2006 2:12 pm

I know a few people who put hops in for aroma and flavour directly into the keg - i.e boil and strain in. Apprently this gives a fresher taste and less chance of the hop flavour being lost during fermentation.

I bottle my beer, so I was thinking of boiling up some hops for 5 minutes and straining into a priming vessel along with the priming sugar.

Does anyone here practise either of the above, and what are the general thoughts on this practise?

/// · Post by **///** » Friday Dec 01, 2006 2:33 pm

can you stand in the kettle at the end of the boil. In a brew house using the whirlpool to combine the trub and to add flavour/aroma hops is the best way to retain the flavour.

at home try turning the heat off, add the hops and stir for a few mins. Wont be an issue for sanitation as the wort will keep abouve 80C

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Friday Dec 01, 2006 3:40 pm

I was just reading a post on the Brewing Network from a guy who added a cone per bottle at bottling

/// · Post by **///** » Friday Dec 01, 2006 3:58 pm

One of the ACT brewers did it a while back, aparently was a sublime beer!

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Friday Dec 01, 2006 5:25 pm

/// wrote:One of the ACT brewers did it a while back, aparently was a sublime beer!

Hmm... I do have a spare 250g of hallertau flowers in my freezer... & I am bottling a Saphir Pilsner tonight... ah why not. I'll give it a go

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Friday Dec 01, 2006 6:26 pm

I'd be interested in the results.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Friday Dec 15, 2006 11:20 pm

Pale_Ale,
I ended up going with POR cones (

hmm.. The only choice I had) after missplacing (ie. using) the Hallertau I thought I had. I chucked a hopcone in 8 out of the 14 stubbies I was bottling.
It's probably a little too be tasting but...

well, I sampled a hopcone free sample last night & am currently sampling the results of the "priming hopped" example. & wow... I'm yet to try a side by side tasting but I think I'll be trying this again

(hopefully with something a little more exciting than POR

) Tonights example seems to have much more hops upfront

Pouring was a bit of a bitch. Most of the hopcones are still floating & I had to pour tonights sample through a cone wedged in the bottle opening. & I have a leaf or 2 sticking to the side of my glass

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Sunday Dec 17, 2006 1:26 pm

That's interesting, I'll give it a go. As you mentioned the next challenge might be making the hops stick to the bottom or not get in the way of the beer!

Danzar · Post by **Danzar** » Sunday Dec 17, 2006 3:05 pm

chris. wrote:Pale_Ale,
I ended up going with POR cones ( hmm.. The only choice I had) after missplacing (ie. using) the Hallertau I thought I had. I chucked a hopcone in 8 out of the 14 stubbies I was bottling.
It's probably a little too be tasting but... well, I sampled a hopcone free sample last night & am currently sampling the results of the "priming hopped" example. & wow... I'm yet to try a side by side tasting but I think I'll be trying this again (hopefully with something a little more exciting than POR ) Tonights example seems to have much more hops upfront
Pouring was a bit of a bitch. Most of the hopcones are still floating & I had to pour tonights sample through a cone wedged in the bottle opening. & I have a leaf or 2 sticking to the side of my glass

Use cheese cloth - pour your beer using the cloth as a filter.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Sunday Dec 17, 2006 6:15 pm

Pale_Ale wrote:That's interesting, I'll give it a go. As you mentioned the next challenge might be making the hops stick to the bottom or not get in the way of the beer!

A few have now sunk to the bottom. Had another last night & it had less hop debris in the glass. Not that I mind either way

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Monday Dec 18, 2006 6:25 am

Does the hops count towards your RDI of greens?

Cheers,
Greg

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Monday Dec 18, 2006 6:59 am

It would have to wouldnt it

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Monday Dec 18, 2006 8:18 pm

Without a doubt it would have to!

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Monday Dec 18, 2006 8:49 pm

gregb wrote:Does the hops count towards your RDI of greens?

Cheers,
Greg

I think you may be onto something here Greg.

& now that you mention it my consumption of greens may have been a little on the low side today

I think I'll be off to 'rectify the situation'

...just to be on the safe side of course

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Monday Dec 18, 2006 9:29 pm

Better safe than sorry

And have a couple just for good luck, they reckon you can never have to many greens

JubJub · Post by **JubJub** » Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 6:30 pm

I supose if you tried this with pellets they would make a mess?

Jub

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 6:52 pm

I don't think you would make a mess.

On one hand it wouldn't be as aromatic and flavourful, but because it is compressed it would probably stick to the bottom pretty well.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 8:58 pm

JubJub wrote:I supose if you tried this with pellets they would make a mess?

Jub

Pretty much.

Even though the pellets are compressed they will break apart when added to the beer & settle to the bottom of the bottle in a loose (ish) layer of hop particals.
You may be able to get away with not disturbing this layer with a nice steady pour but I think it would be hard.
I personally don't believe that fresh, well stored, pellets lack flavour or aroma compared to flowers. But flowers in the bottle would be a much easier option IMO.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 9:47 pm

I also think dropping some pellets into hot water and leaving them for 10 minutes, then straining into the vessel when bulk priming would turn out ok.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Wednesday Dec 20, 2006 9:59 pm

Pale_Ale wrote:I also think dropping some pellets into hot water and leaving them for 10 minutes, then straining into the vessel when bulk priming would turn out ok.

Yes I believe that would be a better option than pellets in the bottle.