Keggle/false bottom question

[bull8042]

Meh... I never bothered. I get some hops and break in my fermenters. One day I'll have a conical so I can pull that stuff off.


Mylo

I have been toying with the V-Vessel idea since my LHBS is carrying them now. But, I am getting a fermentation chiller setup for my next brew since the "fermentation closet" on the west side of my house varies by 3 - 4 degrees. If that works out well though, then it will be hard to stray away from the glass carboys. Decisions, decisions!

[WingStall]

I am assuming that you are a whole hop guy, eh? Pellets are going to get through that false bottom.


Mylo

Negative. Pellet hop material stays on top of the false bottom quite nicely, as you can see in the pics. The stuff that makes it through early in the whirlpool gets circulated through the pump and dropped back on top where it stays.

[fastdogbrewing]

I was thinking about this very topic yesterday after brewing and noticing considerable material going into my fermenter. I have never really worried too much about it since my beer aint so great anyway .

I know people have used the hop stopper deals, but I was wondering if anyone has used a stainless braid in the boil kettle. I was thinking a long braid that would loop around and attach to a T and the outlet should work pretty good if the loop was long enough to keep the braid against the outer wall. I have a lot of luck with the braid in my mash tun so I don't see why this wouldn't work in the boil kettle as well.

Anyone got any experience doing this?

[bull8042]

I was thinking about this very topic yesterday after brewing and noticing considerable material going into my fermenter. I have never really worried too much about it since my beer aint so great anyway .

I know people have used the hop stopper deals, but I was wondering if anyone has used a stainless braid in the boil kettle. I was thinking a long braid that would loop around and attach to a T and the outlet should work pretty good if the loop was long enough to keep the braid against the outer wall. I have a lot of luck with the braid in my mash tun so I don't see why this wouldn't work in the boil kettle as well.

Anyone got any experience doing this?

I will probably end up using the braid for the time being at least. Since I don't want to throw out $50 on a really nice hinged false bottom like WingStall did.
My LHBS has a 10" false bottom for $30, but it just seems a little small for a keggle.

[Mylo]

It has 99% of the time been pellets for me. However, since I was only able to find Hallertau in whole form for my last brew - I had to figure out something. Normally, I just use a full open dip tube in my kettle. Most of the pellets settle in the middle by using the JZ chiller. The last time I used whole hops I had a nightmare - as the pump lines got plugged twice. So this time, I put a copper scrubbie on the end of the dip tube and used the whole Hallertau.... WOW... besides a little bit of a pain in the ass to prime the pump - the wort was SO CLEAR on the way to the carboy. Those cones really sucked up all the break material.

I might have to reconsider this false bottom in the boil kettle idea...


Mylo

[bull8042]

........
I might have to reconsider this false bottom in the boil kettle idea...


Mylo

Tell you what..... order two and send me one and we will try this together!

[foomench]

I like the SS braid idea. I've partially built one up using some pictures from John Palmer for inspiration. But my crappy old boil kettle doesn't have internal threads, so right now I have to gerryrig the thing. I had real good results one time, not so good the next. I'm not sure why yet. The jury is still out. I'd be interested in others' experiences. I built up a JZ whirlpool as well, but I'm thinking of just using a motor with a stirrer on it to make the whirlpool so I don't have to pump.
-Eric

[imacoming]

Does the false bottom have to cover the total diameter of the base of the mash tun?