hop sock

[Steve Popham]

So I'm in placemakers waiting for keys to be cut & browsing with an eye for brewing applicable hardware and I notice the "Filter sleeve" at $4.78 a linear metre. A synthetic weave that looks perfect for hop bags or suspended hop sock. And good price. Will get some and try it.

[Chad Keven]

im keen to make a large gauze cylinder out of ss mesh for hops, has anyone had to source this locally?

i would probably get it spot welded into a cylinder with a squashed end like a toothpaste tube. so after cooling i would just lift the thing out taking the trub with it

[Scarrfie]

http://www.lockernz.co.nz/general-industrial/wire-mesh.html

I had to get some last year for an invention of mine. From memory there are two crowds that do woven wire mesh but only one of them will cut to small lengths. I think half a metre would be the minimum and I think 1200mm wide. Courier will almost double the price so if you can pick up it would be better.

[mattd2]

Just got the hop-balls. Half fill they hold an onze of pellets. I loaded one with 1/2 oz of pacifica and set it in a pint of water for about 30 mins. Came back and there was a slight bit of disolved pellet that had got through the mesh but not to much so I reckon if you are careful with your balls pellets shouldn't be too much of an issue. I then gave them a good dunking and a fair amount got through as expected, tipped a bit off into another pint and poured a speights on top. Gave it a nice bit of aroma and made for a bit better drinking than the normal watery offering!

Now my question is for an NZ/US IPA what would be the best dry hop out of Pacifica, Nelson Sauvin, and Sticklebract?

[Scarrfie]

Can't say I would recommend Stickebract on its own as a dry hop Matt. Have done it 50/50 with Riwaka and it came out okay, but only okay. I have found it a bit harsh and grassy if used past the 20min mark. Given time it will smooth out though.

[mattd2]

Kinda thought that would be the case with the higher AA, would Sauvin be this way too? Looks like it might be the Pacifica pellets and I'll just need to be careful handling the balls!

[Scarrfie]

Something like viole is probably better than mesh to keep floaties out of your beer :-) But some just throw them in and let them settle out.

I have no experience with NS but it is used in some famous beers and I think would be okay. Maybe NS with the pacifica? Do a seach on the both of them and see what you can find.

[mattd2]

Just split the hop ball open and they have swelled to fill about 3/4 of the ball. So I would say the 1/2 and once would be the max for one ball. I'll go try it with some leaf now.

ok managed to get 8 grams with the ball stuffed full! I'll update in about half an hour.

[mattd2]

Just tried the leaf hop and there is no hop material in the glass, a definate green tint to the water and a reasonable hop aroma. Just tried a bit in the last of the speights and have ruled out green bullet for sure for dry hopping with!

[Richard Jack]

I've been using my big reel of muslin cloth. At $20 bucks for 70 odd metres, You can make a pretty big hop sock pretty cheaply, then just biff it after the boil. No mess, no fuss. Would also good for steeping grain I reckon, or lining a cider press...

[Steve Popham]

Where did you get that? Is great price. Good for cheese making also.

[Richard Jack]

hey mate, info is here: http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/forum/topics/cheap-muslin-cloth?xg_...