| Author |
Message |
    
Kevin Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Ktdavis98
Post Number: 351
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 64.136.26.235
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 10:12 pm: | 
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I was drinking a kegged brown today, and thinking it could use some more hop presence. I didn't want to open it, and dry hop it, since it was already carbonated, and it seemed I remembered reading about a method to run beer through hops as it was leaving the keg. I did a search and found a post by Geoff Buschur regarding a hop transducer, and was curious if anyone else had experimented with this since? At that time Geoff had a love hate relationship with it. Any comments now Geoff? Anyone else?
I am thinking that something like this would be handy for that occasional brew that just comes up a little short, and also to experiment with different hops to learn more about their individual flavors when used with different beer types. I think something smaller may also be better, since early reports sounded like it could become overpowering. A smaller amount of beer setting in the hops should transfer a little less flavor to the glass.
Kevin |
Geoff Buschur
Senior Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 1070
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 70.247.101.40
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 10:33 pm: |
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To be quite honest the hop transducer seems to be somewhat of a marketing gimmick to me. Or in my case it is a, "yeah I have one of those".
Given the situation you describe I would just throw some hops in the keg and wait a week. You will not do any damage to the beer despite its current state of carbonation. I have done it several times with no problems.
If you want to experiment with individual hops on a finished beer you might be able to use a coffee press. I have never done this but it seems like it would work similar to the hops transducer. Throw some hops in the press, fill with beer, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, lower the screen in the press and pour off the beer. That actually sounds like fun; I might play with a few beers later tonight.
"I've been drunk for 14 years...my judgment isn't what it used to be."
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Kevin Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Ktdavis98
Post Number: 353
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 64.136.26.235
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:10 pm: |
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Geoff,
I was thinking of a very small inline filter housing that just has the nipple on each end and opens so the filter can be changed, it would only hold a small amount of hops, so when a situation arises that needs a little extra, you could experiment with different hops on the same keg without wasting huge amounts of hops.
I think I could do this for around $10, and leave it on a cobra tap for when the need or urge arises. I thought it might also be an option when you are serving a mild ale to visitors, and you wanted to hop it up a little on one side.
I am not a coffee drinker so what is a coffee press?
Kevin |
Geoff Buschur
Senior Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 1071
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 70.247.101.40
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:00 am: |
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A coffee press is a container that has a built in filter screen like this:
You could fill the container with beer and hops, let it "steep" for a few minutes and then lower/press the filter down to the bottom of the container, then pour the beer off the hops into a glass.
Like I said, I have no idea if this would work, but might be worth a try.
"I've been drunk for 14 years...my judgment isn't what it used to be."
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Kevin Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Ktdavis98
Post Number: 354
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 64.136.26.235
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:12 am: |
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Thanks Geoff,
I was just curious, I had not heard of a coffee press.
So your vote would be that the hop transducer is not worth messing with?
Anyone else tried this with any satisfaction?
Kevin |
tim roth
Intermediate Member
Username: Hopdude
Post Number: 363
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 69.179.32.155
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:56 am: |
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I have friends that have a coffee press. I may have to "borrow" it. CHeers, tim
You know I'm on the level because, my bubble is in the middle.
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don price
Advanced Member
Username: Donzoid
Post Number: 834
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 24.94.123.141
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 02:22 am: |
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Kevin,
Seach for something called a "randle" here on B&V or HBD. Basically the idea is an in-line cartridge filter housing packed with hops (4 to 8 ounces?) to add that little extra kick to your IIPA. You could build a smaller version, as you suggested, with copper or PVC pipe fittings.
Don |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 4491
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.229.8
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 02:35 am: |
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Don, it's actually Randall the Enamel Animal, and it's an invention of Dogfish Head for serving their highly hopped ales. Myself, I think it's a gimmick and a novelty, but I confess I'm not a hop extremist. |
Patrick C.
Advanced Member
Username: Patrickc
Post Number: 508
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 71.56.78.223
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 04:07 am: |
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Hmmm.... Maybe it works better with whole hops. Pellets give me a harsh grassy flavor and flat beer. Some of the little pellet bits come throught the screen, so that may be part of the problem.
 |
Geoff Buschur
Senior Member
Username: Avmech
Post Number: 1072
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 70.247.101.40
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 08:13 am: |
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Well, I have to say my results were a bit different than Patrick's.
The beer is an Amarillo American Amber Ale, A4, with detectable hop flavor and aroma but still a decent amount of caramel aroma to it.
The hop is 7-10 cones of Columbus straight out of the freezer.
The coffee press is a cheap •••• press from Target.
The press was cleaned and free of any head killing oils and chilled. Cones were placed in the press...straight out of the freezer. Beer was poured directly on top of the hops which caused some out-gassing. The screen/filter was lowered to force the hops into the beer. The press was placed into the fridge for 7-10 minutes. Liquid contents were transferred to quaffing vessel and there was still enough CO2 left in solution to create beer foam.
The result was a definite unmistakable presence of Columbus hop aroma and possibly some flavor change due to the shift in aroma.
My conclusion is that this is obviously not practical for every beer you drink, yet a good tool for tweaking a recipe.
"I've been drunk for 14 years...my judgment isn't what it used to be."
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 4493
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.229.8
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 01:08 pm: |
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I believe Dogfish Head uses whole hops exclusively in Randall. |
Patrick C.
Advanced Member
Username: Patrickc
Post Number: 509
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 12.169.58.91
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 01:24 pm: |
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I think I remembered reading that someone had thrown in pellets to "recharge" a Randall, and that it caused problems. I don't have any whole hops right now, but I was pretty bored at the time...
Nice t-shirt, Geoff! |
dhacker
Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 167
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 65.4.194.112
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 01:39 pm: |
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Farah Fawcett pic from 1977 . . gotta love it.
I'm not too sure of the practical use of this hop transducer thingy. It appears the concept would add considerably to the cost of each beer. How many glasses per 4 - 8 ounces of hops? |
Scott Manning
Member
Username: Liquidbreaddiet
Post Number: 173
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 12.18.36.40
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 02:28 pm: |
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I have had the same DFH beer both plain and run through Randel. IMHO the is some detectable hop briteness added when used
(Message edited by liquidbreaddiet on January 23, 2006) |
Drew Pattison
Junior Member
Username: Droopy
Post Number: 86
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 143.115.159.54
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 02:46 pm: |
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Thanks Geoff.
Now I need to stop at Target on the way home and perform some research and development by "press hopping" whatever whole hops I have on hand.
It's a tough gig, this homebrew thing.  |
Hophead
Senior Member
Username: Hophead
Post Number: 1971
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 167.4.1.38
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 04:35 pm: |
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I use whole hops in a large water filter canister between the keg and the tap and it works very well... |
Kevin Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Ktdavis98
Post Number: 355
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 64.136.26.235
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 12:22 am: |
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HH,
I am considering something like what you and Geoff have, but somewhat smaller. The filter canister I am thinking about is similar in size to the old in-line gas filters for cars, but opens to change the filter. Leave out the filter and fill with hops.
There is enough positive response, that I think I will give it a try, I have an old cobra tap, and liquid out ball lock laying around anyway, will only be out the filter canister.
Kevin |
Hophead
Senior Member
Username: Hophead
Post Number: 1974
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 167.4.1.38
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 04:25 pm: |
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If you can fit a plastic tube (with holes in it) over the in and the out openings inside the canister, then you'd be all set (whole hops). Not sure what the canister looks like so you may need to be creative with the 'filter'...
Start with an aromatic hop to get the feel for it (like cascade/columbus/centennial/amarillo)... |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 2084
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 208.49.148.10
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 07:01 pm: |
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Adding some dry hopping hop oil to a glass of beer seems a lot easier and cheaper. |
Kevin Davis
Intermediate Member
Username: Ktdavis98
Post Number: 357
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 64.136.26.235
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:54 am: |
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I have not seen hop oil where I get my grain, and have not necessarily looked on the web. Is it available in most hop variety's? I was still thinking with some form of the hop transducer, hop fans, and non-hop fans could drink from the same keg, and both be happy. Or when a brew just comes up a little short, you could mess with it a little bit while comparing different hop flavors in any given style.
Kevin |
Eric Severseike
New Member
Username: Els94
Post Number: 10
Registered: 04-2004
Posted From: 68.100.40.143
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 01:33 am: |
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Kevin,
Here's a link to HopTech's hop oils page. NAYY.
Eric
http://www.hoptech.com/cart/cart.php?target=category&category_id=266 |
Brews and Views Archive 2006 
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