New Brunswick Craft Brewers Association
Marketplace => Vendors => Topic started by: Chris Craig on October 04, 2012, 08:31:40 PM
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Just looking around on OBK, and notice that they now carry some hops at a decent price. Not the greatest selection yet, but they say they'll have more soon.
I also saw that they now carry SS fittings, and many are cheaper than hopdawgs.ca, although they don't carry cam locks. Definitely worth a look considering the $15 flat rate shipping on orders over $50.
And don't forget our club discount of 5%.
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Saw this too... Im liking all the new equipment.
Wouldnt mind trying this beer gun
http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/product_p/beergun.htm (http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/product_p/beergun.htm)
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They're also going to be carrying malt shortly and have a decent selection of dry yeast. Not to mention their super cheap SS pots. I picked up a 15gal one a month ago.
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how is the 15 gal pot in terms of sturdiness? If it weighs about 12 pounds, it must be lighter duty than a Sanke, which weighs about 29 pounds, although that includes parts wich are not required in a kettle setting. I am impressed with the flat rate shipping and stainless pricing.
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I've actually been thinking about ordering one for an HLT.
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It's plenty sturdy. Like you said, not nearly as hefty as a Sanke, but doesn't feel cheap. The only change I'd want to see in it is riveted handles instead of welded. But it would be very rare that I'd be needing to lift it with any amount of liquid anyway.
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They seem to have quite a variety now. Centennial, Warrior, Cluster, Palisade, etc. They average $20/lb though.
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yeah, I ordered a bunch of the SALE hops on my last order...they were for $10 a pound on certain types....really cheap so bought them.
only draw back is the packaging. It's very thin "plastic christmas wrapper" packaging and no vacuum sealing. But for $10 a pound, I guess I can't complain.
I would strongly recommend double bagging the hops before putting them in the freezer as I could see them getting freezer burnt.
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That's strange. I ordered a pound of Perle from them and it's vac sealed in what looks like the same material as HopsDriect uses.
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really? that is strange....all of mine was in crappy cellophane bags. Ah well, good to hear their packaging is better. They must have got some pressure to change their bag material.
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If it was from us it is not cellophane. We use Mylar only on hops, and that is the only thing we have ever used. We bought our packager before we bought the hops:
http://www.uline.ca/BL_2256/Vacuum-Sealer (http://www.uline.ca/BL_2256/Vacuum-Sealer)
It is not uncommon for bags to puff on transit. The truth of the matter is every place has to deal with that on bags. It is the same bags hopsdirect uses.
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Thanks for the info OBK - I know the Perle that Chris received was extremely well packed, and the shrink wrapped mylar was very tight.
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I'm sure it's not cellophane, but it reminds me of that type of material, and very thin, like expensive christmas wrapping.
All of the bags of hops I receive on my first hop purchase were in very thin, non vacuumed bags.
I ordered either 2 of 4 ounces of Polaris to try on my last order, and they were packaged very well, like hops direct.
Don't know what to tell you. I can post pics if needed.
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I think I know what you mean fakr. In the kit they sent me (http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Chris_Cr ... -oh-my.htm (http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Chris_Craig_s_Rye_Oh_My_Award_Winning_Kit_p/agkit-rye-oh-my.htm)) the hops were in non-vacuum sealed bags, but it looked liky mylar to me. Maybe they were flushed with nitrogen for the smaller amounts.
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like I said earlier, the latest hop order arrived in a rugged, vacuum sealed bag, so if that's the standard in the future, then I'm a happy camper and will continue to purchase hops from OBK. Great company.
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Sorry I am not trying to argue. Just because the bags are puffy does not mean the seal broke or the integrity of the hops has been compromised. Those bags are vacuum sealed at 85PSI and they are a generic Mylar (just not the brand name). 2.2MM thickness. The only difference in material is the TM. It is likely just a case of degassing or expansion from being cold in the freezer then travelling at higher temperatures. I know it happens, and I know the smaller amounts are more prone to it. We ordered a skid from hopsdirect not to long ago made up of vacuum sealed 11bags. Only about four bags arrived with the brick feel. It is just the way it is.
We are experimenting with alternatives like packaging at room temps, more and less nitro. And have custom made samples of 4.4 and 4.2 bags for pounds. The weird part in all this is plastic bags do not have the poof problem since the gas just premeates and exits the bags before expansion.
http://themeyers.org/HomeRoast/Topic11341.htm (http://themeyers.org/HomeRoast/Topic11341.htm)
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Hops direct is moving away from the brick-like sealed bags. Apparently the industry standard is as well.
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Do you know what they are changing to? Nitro pillows are from what we looked at are best way to send them from a preserving standpoint. Keeps the pellets intact and air free. This causes problems though because hard to tell if the package has been compromised. Rule of thumb without fancy equipment is if you can not smell it or squeeze it empty the package is good.
Vacuum packing grinds the pellets and creates dust in the bag that has low utilization. Compromised bags will have free moving pellets with no pocket.Presentation is much better since the brick is assumed to be perfect. Major downside to vacuum packing in Mylar is the pellets will cause micro tears in the bags, the bags have no stretch like plastic. A conversation I saw on Probrewer said you would need 9mm bags to ensure no problems. How do you pass along the price of a $2 bag for one oz of pellets?
I have tried both and will likely return the nitro module since too many complaints for the puff. Input is appreciated, this is not stuff you can learn from a class!
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Thanks for the dialog, I think it helps both sides of the fence :)
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Hi OBK,
This is on the Hops Direct website: We are in the process of moving from a tight, hard vacuum to the newer industry standard "soft packs".
http://www.hopsdirect.com/pellet-hops-domestic/ (http://www.hopsdirect.com/pellet-hops-domestic/)
I don't really know much about the new format beyond that, but I'm sure Hops Direct would have a press release for it if contacted.
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Thanks for the info OBK - I know the Perle that Chris received was extremely well packed, and the shrink wrapped mylar was very tight.
Funny thing about that. They were sitting in my fridge for a week or so, then one day I saw that the bag was no longer sealed tight. Not sure what happend. Perhaps thicker bags are in order. I'm not worried about it. It was sealed well when I got it. I'm just going to open the bag soon anyway.