Dry Hopping

[Rumtopf]

A few questions, how early during primary fermentation should I add hops?Pelleted or leaf hops?For how long? I usually put around fifty grams per twenty litres in a nylon bag for the last day or two before transfer to carboys.Thanks, Michael

[Tony L]

You'll get more success with dry hopping after primary is finished. The CO2 made during primary scrubs out the hop flavour.

[GAM]

I do a secondary addition. Usally pellets loose (as per Greg's advise) and wait till they settle and rack, bottle or keg.

Your amounts depend on taste. I would use at least an oz/23l as a start and tweek from there.

Sandy

[mr x]

You definitely want to get as much yeast out before dry hopping, as the yeast deadens the effect. Dry hopping in the 68-70 range is best. 50g/keg is probably good if you like that taste, you can definitely go higher though.

[amartin]

There really isn't a right way, you'll get a lot of answers here. As a general rule though, wait until it's done fermenting, and go for at least 1oz per 5 gallons.

[Rumtopf]

To sum up, dryhop loose into secondary,eg carboy and hops will settle out?I usually add gelatin when racking into carboy. Should that be delayed?*Or use Kieselsol later, while going into keg?Dryhop in keg with bag? Thanks, Michael

[mr x]

The pellet hops do settle out. You can dryhop in the keg with a bag.

[IanCompetent]

When I do a secondary fermentation, I just add the dry hops to the carboy when I rack. Lately though, I've only been using a primary for 4 weeks and I dry hop around the 7th day.

What form of hop I use also depends on whether I use the secondary or not. Pellet hops are much easier to clean out of the carboy and they drop out pretty easily after a week or so. When I only use a primary, I use leaf hops and use a sanitized strainer to skim them off of the top before I bottle. I do find that leaf hops have a better aroma overall, though and lately my results have been much better as far as the smell of the finished product is concerned.

Hope that helps and happy brewing!!