Cold Break v Lost Wort

[SlugTrap]

I do partial boils. This makes it hard to make big IPAs and also get the OG right, because the leaf hops sponge up a lot of wort.

So I'm wondering: what are the consequences of not removing the cold break i.e. draining all the liquid in the pot into the fermenter?
I've read that it ca "lead to off flavor including DMS, Sulfur, and Fusel Alcohols" but that seems vague. How high are these risks?

And if I really need to remove the cold break (and because squeezing hops releases tannins) how else can I get all the wort out of a leafy boil?

[brenmurph]

are u using a hop bag? Muslin or hop filter or just letting run around your boiler loose?

[Eoin]

Squeeze the hops just don't go mad with it. Tannin extraction from squeezing is a bit of a myth.

Sent using a complex system of semaphore and ninjas.

[brenmurph]

I always give the hop bag a good squeez especially with late hopping. Dont want to leave precious and expensive hop juice in there.
Never had any hint of tanning by squeezin either bittering hop bag or late hop bag

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I do partial boils. This makes it hard to make big IPAs and also get the OG right, because the leaf hops sponge up a lot of wort.

And if I really need to remove the cold break (and because squeezing hops releases tannins) how else can I get all the wort out of a leafy boil?

Use hop bags. Then fish the boil hops out with whatever you have to hand (straining spoon, mash paddle, or a sieve).

I have squeezed hop bags and never released tannins that I could taste (and I made some hoppy beers). Have you a reference for the tannin extraction?

As for the cold break, I would prefer to have it out than in, but I am not awfully fussy about removing all of it. It could interfere with sedimentation of yeasts that flocculate well, and could get disturbed during racking or dry hopping.

[brenmurph]

Tannin extraction from squeezing is a bit of a myth.

so is the claimed tannin  extraction by boiling grain...dosent happen... its to do with ph hence u can boil grain in decoction mashing.

[Shanna]

Hi Tube

Just read your post and it flagged something that i read on the wiki on kegging. It mentions that given enough time in a cold environment all beers will clear. Is this correct or is a beer containing hop break going to end up in cloudy beer irrespective of how long it is kept for?

Shanna

From personal experience it's cloudy beer you'll most likely get.

[Shanna]

Are you squeezing the hop bag just after the boil finishes or I are you waiting till it cools? I am apprehensive about squeezing hop bags with bare hands due to risk of introducing something into the cooled wort. On the other hand what is an effective way to squeeze a bag of hops containing scalding hot liquid?

Shanna

I always give the hop bag a good squeez especially with late hopping  Dont want to leave precious and expensive hop juice in there.
Never had any hint of tanning by squeezin either bittering hop bag or late hop bag

[delzep]

Are you squeezing the hop bag just after the boil finishes or I are you waiting till it cools? I am apprehensive about squeezing hop bags with bare hands due to risk of introducing something into the cooled wort. On the other hand what is an effective way to squeeze a bag of hops containing scalding hot liquid?

Shanna

I always give the hop bag a good squeez especially with late hopping  Dont want to leave precious and expensive hop juice in there.
Never had any hint of tanning by squeezin either bittering hop bag or late hop bag

sanitised metal tongs?

[brenmurph]

I have a  stainless scoopy thing with holes in it from the kitchen and  astainless kitchen sieve that fits nicely a hop bag, the hop bag sits in the sieve and the scoopy thing with holes in it squishes the bag

[Ciderhead]

I suspend the bag without squeezing over the boiler for 10 mins whilst chiller is started that drains 90% of it.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

On the other hand what is an effective way to squeeze a bag of hops containing scalding hot liquid?

In a robust sieve or colander, squeeze it with your mash paddle, ladle or whatever comes to hand.

[irish_goat]

You can always "sparge" your hop bag as well, grab it out with tongs, put it in a metal colander and hold it over the kettle while pouring boiling water through it. Obviously you can only do this if you don't mind an extra half litre of water in your brew.

[Rossa]

Just add enough liquid that you don't need the break material to hit your batch size.

Putting Irish moss in to give you clear wort and then ending up with the break material in the fv is a little pointless but it happens most folk unless they are very careful.

[Hop Bomb]

Why do ye use hop bags? I though one of the main benefits of using whole leaf hops is that it acts as a filter bed for your break material.