First Extract...

[gavind]

I will be doing my first extract beer this weekend and i think i have everything sorted.

The one question i do have is, should i strain the wort when adding it to my fermenter to get all the hops out? I have done a few hop boils in the past when using kits and never worried about straining, but since i will be using a lot more hops i think it may be wise. thoughts would be appreciated.

cheers
gav

[Ash]

I use a hop bag to contain the hops during the boil so this isn't an issue.

Boiled stockings, muslin bag, whatever.

tho I'm pretty sure the hops would just settle out into the trub anyway

[The Carbonator]

After the boil, you should be left with hop material, plus the break material in the bottom of your kettle.
I have thrown the whole lot into the fermenter before, and the beer tasted fine to me, but this is probably not best pratice.

The break material can contribute to off flavours, so you should remove it.
I have been just carefully pouring the wort from the pot into fermenter, and leaving the last litre or so of crap. Then I chuck it.

To minimise wastage, a lot of guys stir the wort, creating a good wirlpool. This will draw all the crap into the centre of the kettle, then you simply syphon the clear wort from the side of the pot.

http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... php?t=4140

Hope this helps.

[pixelboy]

I chuck it what ever ended up in the boil into the primary... hops n all.. get more flavour

Grains etc shoild be strained before hitting the boil..

The hops settle into the yeast trub soon enuf... just be carefull when you rack or bottle

[Chris]

I try to get the hop particles out with the break, but am not overly concerned if some get in. The main problem is for glass carboy users with the blow-off tube.