Recirculating in the boil kettle

[Jimmy]

So I have my bk setup to recirc and whirlpool while chilling the wort. Today my hop stopper was clogged, and I couldn't recirculate, nor drain the wort out through the ball valve (I ended up using a racking cane).

What do those of you who recirculate in the bk, use to drain the wort? I am thinking I might be better off just using a plain old dip tube on the side of the kettle, avoiding the hop mound in the center of the kettle. Any thoughts?

[Tony L]

I just whirpool and rack via the pick up tube on the side of my kettle
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[Jimmy]

I just whirpool and rack via the pick up tube on the side of my kettle
http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a357/ ... cks027.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do you lose about a gallon of wort in the kettle?

[Tony L]

Never measured it, but yeah, I'd guess it was around that. But if you take into account that a lot of it is break/hop material, then,
I'm not losing all that much. It is all taken into account when I make up a recipe.

[KMcK]

I recall Red Green making beer in a clothes washer. It sounds as if that's what you need.

[mr x]

If you can find my old hopstopper thread, I mad a kickass design ala the Blichmann hopstopper that sucks the kettle dry with no pluggage or hops in the fermenter.

[papercrane]

If you can find my old hopstopper thread, I mad a kickass design ala the Blichmann hopstopper that sucks the kettle dry with no pluggage or hops in the fermenter.

Is this the post? Looks like an awesome design.

[mr x]

That's the one, and it kicks ass. I was inspired by the Blichmann designed hopstopper - but this one has far more surface area.

[Jimmy]

That's the one, and it kicks ass. I was inspired by the Blichmann designed hopstopper - but this one has far more surface area.

Do you recirc in the kettle with that?

[mr x]

Yup, wide open.

[Jimmy]

Yup, wide open.

Hmmm..I wonder if I need to add some thin wire mesh to mine.

I'm using this contraption. Underneath, it has a steel braid that is connected to a "T" and out to the diptube. That steel braid is what was clogged with hops when I took it out after the boil. Either the hopstopper wasn't sitting on the bottom properly, or I need some other type of filtration to prevent the wire braid from clogging. It wasn't an issue on my first 2 brews, only this last one (which had the least amount of hops)

[mr x]

Might work, but you'll most likely need to use the ss strap as well. That gets pulled at the end to finish the draining. And don't even consider a plate chiller. I use a chillzilla.

[Jimmy]

What's the strap you're referring to?

Edit: Are you referring to the solid steel strap at the bottom? Do you remove that to open up "unexposed" mesh to the wort, allowing it to flow more freely?

[mr x]

Exactly. It's springy, and pops off when you pull on the u clip. You pull it at the end, when all the exposed mesh has plugged.

[Jimmy]

I think I am just going to go with a wide open, 1/2" side pickup, and whirl-pool with my pump. Anyone see any problems with this method?

[Jimmy]

This is my next attempt at accomplishing somewhat clear wort, while still using my pump to whirl pool.

I plan on whirl pooling, letting it settle, then pulling from the side pickup. I ran some water through it today, and don't lose much more in the kettle than I did with the center pickup.

Opinions?

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[mr x]

I guess it could work, although for my beers where the hops are halfway up the keg, I dunno, lol...