Fairly new to brewing and not even close to a pro. Just wandering if an ounce of leaf hops are equal to an ounce of pellet hops. Was going to buy a hop strainer for my brew kettle and they told me it doesn't work well with pellets. Thinking of using leaf hops now, but have never used them. What do ya think?

I prefer pellets, it is said that you need to use about 10% more leaf as compared to pellets. I have used both and didn't see a real difference. I think it is a matter of preference. Leaf hops seem to hold more wort, unless you squeeze out the wort, but there is no need to strain out pellet hops, as they will sink to the bottom of the fermentor during Fermentation. I personally have found leaf hops to be a PITA, but as I said, it is a matter of preference.

Read this http://www.tastybrew.com/forum/thread/214007 ...
Just to inform you if you don't know. Read those AA % numbers on the bag/container/etc. That number helps you determine the amount (wt) of hops whether it be pellet/plug/leaf to use and your recipe will let you know when to add...etc. You can work with the recipe calculators etc. on this site to assist you!

Yes, I know about the AA%. Just never used anything other than pellets. Thanks for the info.

b- also keep in mind that the size of your boil will alter your hops utilization which in turn will affect your final IBUs. I only do a 2 gallon partial boil so I have to use more a lot hops to get to the same IBUs as a full volume boil.

I know this wasn't you original question but it may be helpful. I switched from pellet to leaf hops a few months ago. If nothing else, it makes me feel like a more genuine brewer considering I am still stuck in the extract phase....

go grain young man go grain

and i have found whole leaf is much better, of couse i am typing this after my first taste of a 9.9% sweet stout and just opened a new weizen i bottled two weeks ago, what do i know joe

From experience as an extract brewer, I would add a good portion of your extract late in the boil, maybe ten minutes, and at least half of it at that time. You will lose some lupulin oils from the hops in a few ways during your boil, especially as an extract brewer, and depending on your process/equipment. If you add a good portion of your extract later in the boil, and maybe adjust your alpha acid rate, (I usually add around 10 ibus to my initial calculations.) Then you will achieve your desired hop rate. I use a fine mesh bag that works great for straining hops, but I know that I lose some ibus using this process. I always use pellets, they are compact, stronger, and cost less per ounce. As long as you use them when they are fresh they will work great for ya.

I only did one extract kit and decided that if I was going to do this, I had to go all grain. 6 batches into this and I'm addicted. I can't get enough. I come on this website everyday and try to learn new things from all you pro's.

I'm with ya b!