Just wondering what the preference is with using whole hops in a boil. Do you put them in a bag or leave to freely circulate in the boil? I have never put them in a bag and just wanted to make sure the utilization is the same. I have never used a bag with my hops and always thought bagging the hops would make cleanup easier. thanks

Add 10% to your hop-bill when using a hopbag, that should do the trick.

Peter.

I don't recalculate due to bags being used. I've never noticed any issues.

Might get slight increase in utilization(may not be noticable) but cleanup is a lot easier.

i always use whole hops and never use a bag. They make a great filter when transfering out of the kettle.

Whole hops work great with false bottom kettles. No hop bag for me. Cleaning the hop bag is more hassle than cleaning the kettle and FB in my experience.

I use the disposable hop socks. They are made from cloth and are recyclable. They work fine. I put pellets in them and whole hops as well.

Thanks for all the advice.

I don't have a false bottom kettle (yet), new to all grain, so should I use a hop sock and would a regular grain bag work ok? I do find that when siphoning my brew out of the kettle into the fermenter, I tend to get few hop leaves stuck in the tubing. Not really a big deal but if it could be avoided I would like that.

I've used whole hops in grain bags and hop pellets in a cheese-cloth sack. Both did great!

Hmm dunno how it is "over" on your side of the pond - Here in Denmark we use tube-gauze for hop bags, you can buy it at any pharmacy. Tie a knott, cut to lenght, fill in you hops and tie it of, boom presto, you got your hopbag. after the boil just fish `em out, and throw `em away. cheap as old chips

Peter.

Cheap is always good, I guess you don't need to sterilize because you are throwing into the boil for a while, correct?

correct

False bottom kettles w/ whole hops help filter out hot break for a cleaner cast out. After yesterday's brew clogging the heat exchanger all night after using plugs, I'm putting a false bottom in my keggle.

Plugs are just compressed whole hops. I don't understand why they should be any harder to filter.

I didn't say they were. They break up into whole leaf in the kettle. Don't break my balls.

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come off like that. I don't understand your statement concerning plugs.....are you saying that you don't use a FB and that's why you had problems? What have you been using to get the wort from the kettle?

Decanthas, you don't necissarly need a false bottom, why not try a bazooka or a bozooka T. I use the T and it works just fine but once you use pellets it will clog almost instantly.

Yep, I use the T for whole hops and a curved side pickup tube for pellets.

5 gallon paint strainer bags from any home improvement store (or hardware store), I use clamps to hold the bag up, so it is easy to add each new addition.

Exactly the same as this: http://www.facebook.com/editphoto.php?aid=120026&success=1&failure=0#/photo.php?pid=2874662&id=660003141

I must be in the minority. I don't strain anything (whole or pellet) and I don't mess around with bags. Into the primary it goes!

I've tried hop bags a couple of times and I think it mutes the bitterness.