I have a question regarding dry hopping in conicals used as unitanks. When we go high on the dry hop, above the racking port, then we sometimes have an issue with hops being pulled through when packaging (mostly an issue when canning).
I chill the beer down, put a bit of head pressure on the tank then dump from the bottom outlet, I get a load out but still have the problem at packaging. What I think is happening is that the hops are all being drawn from the centre of the cone and the stuff on the sides of the cone are stuck on. i.e. the trub level does not lower uniformly with a flat top. When we rack off, the liquid level coming down and being pulled to the central racking point must knock off some hops stuck to the sides (which is above the racking point) and pulls them through. To further support this theory I have noticed that the slower we rack off the less that comes through.
I have read a few different methods for dry hopping in unis and seen suggestions of dumping smaller amounts but more times, a long slow dump over several hours, dumping using a smaller diameter line.
Anyone have any views of experiences on this?
Also, on a side note if anyone has a quick method of getting the dry hops back out again after racking for cleaning I would be interested to hear. Currently I fit a Y piece to the bottom outlet, pump water in one side then drain the other side. Works but takes a bit of time.
Using T90s btw.
Cheers.
I chill the beer down, put a bit of head pressure on the tank then dump from the bottom outlet, I get a load out but still have the problem at packaging. What I think is happening is that the hops are all being drawn from the centre of the cone and the stuff on the sides of the cone are stuck on. i.e. the trub level does not lower uniformly with a flat top. When we rack off, the liquid level coming down and being pulled to the central racking point must knock off some hops stuck to the sides (which is above the racking point) and pulls them through. To further support this theory I have noticed that the slower we rack off the less that comes through.
I have read a few different methods for dry hopping in unis and seen suggestions of dumping smaller amounts but more times, a long slow dump over several hours, dumping using a smaller diameter line.
Anyone have any views of experiences on this?
Also, on a side note if anyone has a quick method of getting the dry hops back out again after racking for cleaning I would be interested to hear. Currently I fit a Y piece to the bottom outlet, pump water in one side then drain the other side. Works but takes a bit of time.
Using T90s btw.
Cheers.
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