centennial pellets

[Nibrewer]

Hi guys I am seeking guidance.

I am brewing a coopers IPA. I have been told that I should maybe add centennial pellets at the end of the brew. Has anyone done this and what will it taste like ?? I don't want to spoil my brew.

Thanks

[irish_goat]

Centennial is a great hop for IPAs. You can add the hops dry simply by throwing them into the fermenter. I'd normally leave the brew to ferment for 7-9 days and then add the dry hops for a further 4-5 days. 40g would be a nice amount of Centennial. It should add a nice floral, citrus aroma to the beer.

[Bubbles]

You can make a hop tea! Great way of adding hop flavour to a kit. I'd normally make the hop tea by boiling the hops along with some of the dried malt extract used to supplement the kit. Boiling an ounce or two of hops is good.

You can even add hop teas at bottling time. Just add the hops in a muslin bag when you're boiling your priming sugar. That will freshen the beer up.

[DEMPSEY]

They have the nickname of being "super cascade" because they offer even more grapefruit

[Nibrewer]

Now here is a thing.

Can I after the brew is fermented take some of the beer and add the pellets and boil it up, let it cool, strain and add it back into the pressure barrel before drinking or should I just add the raw pellets when fermentation is complete and leave them a few days, remove them and then either bottle or add the beer to the pressure barrel.


Thanks

[Bubbles]

You can do either, or both. More hops the better, in my book!

[Jonnycheech]

I wouldn't go over 5 days with the Centennial when dry-hopping, they can  impart grassy flavour!

[Nibrewer]

OK so when the fermentation has stopped should I place them into a bag and put them into the beer for say three days. I don't want to mess this up. I will be putting the beer into a pressure barrel.

Nibrewer

[Vermelho]

Yep, that's the way to do it. Sanitise the bag by boiling it first then pop about 40g of pellets in to the bag and then into the fermenter. I'd say 4 days would be nice. You'll also need to weigh the bag down to keep it on the bottom, I put a glass or some marbles (all sanitised) in with mine.

[Nibrewer]

Well this has me excited about this beer/Ale. It is the first IPA I have done and its the 1st time I will have added anything other that what has came with the tin.

Thanks guys and if you have any other tips about adding stuff other than the standard ingredients please PM me.

Nibrewer

[irish_goat]

Well this has me excited about this beer/Ale. It is the first IPA I have done and its the 1st time I will have added anything other that what has came with the tin.

Thanks guys and if you have any other tips about adding stuff other than the standard ingredients please PM me.

Nibrewer

LordEoin has done up a good kit hack guide. Adding speciality grains is dead easy and definitely worth trying.

[johnrm]

I find that a lot of kits, particularly hop forward styles, quite simply are crap.
Adhering to the 'instructions' yield only a modest flavor and aroma.
My experience has been that kit and kilo is always sub standard when it comes to hops.

[Nibrewer]

Thanks for the replies. I have read the post and its a great post. My intention now is to wait until fermentation has stopped and then I am going to add the pellets and wait for four days then put everything into my pressure barrel and add the co2 for a bit of fizz.

[LordEoin]

I find that a lot of kits, particularly hop forward styles, quite simply are crap.
Adhering to the 'instructions' yield only a modest flavor and aroma.
My experience has been that kit and kilo is always sub standard when it comes to hops.

Well yeah, that's what happens when you evaporate wort down to a sticky malt goop 
Hacking them with fresh specialty grain and hops brings a lot of the life back.
The only kit I've not been able to turn into something decent is the Finlandia bitter (tried a few times and it's always got the 'twang'), which is odd seeing as i'm quite fond of their dark ale as a hack base.

[Nibrewer]

Well looks like the bubbling has stopped. I had the hops in for a few days and had a sneaky nip. Tastes strong and full of flavour and strong. Mind you I am not going to belt it into me. I will put it into my pressure barrel and see how it goes. I even put a coopers Irish stout down too.