Hopping for the glass

[jt]

OK, brother departs for the east tomorrow and he hasn't even had a sniff of the PKB attempt that I brewed for a farewell that didn't eventuate

So last chance tonight. Now I was wondering if I should try replicate a handpumped ale.
We've done this before. Puncture a plastic bottle lid with half a doz holes and squeeze the beer out of the plastic botlle, good results.

Then I thought about filling the bottle with some cascade cones for that total hop experience.

I'm guessing I'd get a lot of foam filling the bottle as the beer hits the hops.

Thoughts and ideas please !

[Chris Banks]

What if you put the cones in the bottle and put in enough beer to saturate them and wait for the foaming to subside then fill the bottle and proceed with your cunning plan?

It also occured to me that our favourite brewing supplies store owner has a much more straight foward approach!

[JoKing]

Cheers Chris...

It doesn't foam up all that much. Put the cones in the bottle - and proceed as you have described. Sounds like an awesome idea!

[jt]

OK, I'll see how I go for time - take some pics if I do

Any idea how much I should use - dumb question I know - probably filling a 1.25 litre

[Chris Banks]

Could be a bit experimental but four times or more - what you would normally dry hop per litre due to the short exposure time.
I guess the more hops add the more beer you will loose to absorbtion though! Unless your going to fill and empty it a few times?

[jt]

It's probably just a oncer and yes I need to consider absoption, so maybe it's a two litre bottle

[Matthew]

I think i've found a use for all the homegrown hops I have.

:D

[jt]

OK, cones straight from the freezer, or let them come upto room temperature ?

[Reviled]

My vote goes for room temp JT, I read something a while back about warming up hops before use, so I even do this when im brewing, take the hops out of the freezer when I start the mash, cant say ive noticed a difference but ya never know :o)

[jt]

Yea, I'd read that to about using them at room temp, don't know where now.
Just a thought that cold from the freezer would create - is it - nucleation points - that would cause foaming ?

[Reviled]

Youll get nucleation from the surface area of the hop, if anything I imagine you would get less nucleation from a cold hop as particles shrink when cold??

I dont know exactly, just wanted to sound like a scientist for a min ;o) haha

[jt]

OK chaps the vote was room temp and the judges agreed - all poured

10gm cones in the bottle, it'll have 2 hours approx steeping time.
The first pour filled the bottle with not much foam, but then the hops sucked some up and I had to top it up.
Tried a couple more little top ups but it's getting all foamy on me.

Pics and opinions tomorrow chaps

[MrC]

Can't offer any advise on this topic sorry jt but I'm looking forward to the pics and thoughts afterwards. I'm intrigued by the bottle technique.

I'm not a really a fan of beer on handpump. The few times I've tried it I found it disappointing and lifeless, but that's probably just because I've never had a good one.