A Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine reader recently asked us the following question:
I’m finding it difficult to separate the hops from the wort after the boil, and I’m concerned spent hops will clog up my chiller. What do you recommend?
There are basically three different types of devices that contain hops matter and separate it from the wort. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. First, you can bag your hops in a nylon or muslin bag. Second, you can consider a hop basket, which is usually made of a fine screen that typically hangs from the top of the boil pot. Finally, you can consider a screen/device that attaches to the output from the kettle that filters wort as it is drained from the kettle after the boil.
Using a hop bag is probably the simplest method and the first one many brewers use when learning to brew. A hop bag can be quite effective at containing hops trub, and if you use a large-enough bag, it should have minimal impact on hops utilization. Some bags can even be cleaned and reused. The only limitations to this method are that it doesn’t easily allow for multiple boil additions, unless you use a lot of bags, and it won’t filter out grain trub—the little bits of grain left after the boil.