First brew with new hop basket

[Waterlogged]

JonnyB and I brewed a big batch of Pic Best Bitter clone on Sunday.  It was the first brew using a hop basket JonnyB purchased online in US.  It worked exceptionally well.  It held all the hops needed which was about 2 oz of leaf and 6 oz  pellet hops.  The picture shows a lot of hops at the surface but once it boilded a minute or two and a few good stirrs, it dissapear to the bottom.  The mesh is a beleive 300 microns so very little trub at the bottom of the pot.  I am sure we were able to get an extra coupe of litre of beer into the carboys at the end.

[pliny]

Looks great!

[blisster]

Looks awesome Reid...

Where did he purchase if from?  I just looked on ebay and they are about $75 shipped (to the US)...

[Waterlogged]

He got them at http://arborfab.com/ocart/index.php?route=common/home and they do go for about $75.  It would be nice if we could find a machiniest who could make these.  Pretty easy if you know how to weld and can get some stainless stell mesh.  We also got a carboy and a keg dry hop basket.

[blisster]

Thanks.. I just ordered their 4x10 hop basket and carboy dry hopper combo 

[fakr]

Very cool, could definitely use one of those.

[Roger]

That's a great little gadget. I'd like to build one like this.

[Chris Craig]

I used to use a hop sock, but I found decreased hops utilization.  I bet if you recirculated into the center of one of these during the boil, you'd get past that limitation.

If you really are going to build one, perhaps you'd be willing to me one too

[DandyMason]

I was in touch with these guys too a while back but I didnt end up getting one. I might be in need of one in the near future though.

http://nbcba.org/forum/equipment/arbor-fab-hops-screen/msg20426/#msg20426

[Waterlogged]

I used to use a hop sock, but I found decreased hops utilization.

We stopped using hop socks as well but mostly because we would forget to clean them and they would get a bit moldy.  Unlike the socks, the hops are free to circulate within the basket instead of being balled up tightly.  The beer just finsihed it primary so I hope to have it kegged by next weekend.  Should be ready in time for the next meeting.

[brew]

Interesting - I originally started using a home made hop sock as well. Basically a 5G paint strainer bag strapped to a 6" PVC coupler suspended over the kettle. It worked great and was super cheap, but again, hop utilization becomes a factor. The hops did tend to bounce around in the bag, but I wonder if one of the items here would better encourage the hops to float around more increasing the hop utilization? Might be another alternative to helping me get better recirc through my CFC... Waterlogged I'd be interested to hear if you notice any difference...

[Chris Craig]

What we need is a giant version of this.  One that takes up almost the whole of the inside of the kettle

[Waterlogged]

Once we get out chugger pump set up, recirculating the wort into the top of the basket is definitly going to be tried.

[Chris Craig]

This guy had arborfab build a custom filter that would allow him to put his immersion chiller in the kettle.  I don't see it listed on their site, so it's probably a special order thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57HzRN8v-4I

[Waterlogged]

Seems like it would have to be custom made.  Very very cool.