Dry Hopping Post-fermentation: Will It Do Anything?

[82Mike]

Hi

I made an ESB wort kit Creatures Pale Ale- it had 12g of Cascade finishing hops and, as per the instructions, I steeped it in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes and pitched it into the wort just before the yeast.

I think I've pretty much reached FG now (10.12) having started at 10.48. The wort tastes quite bitter - which I was expecting and am predicting it will mellow in a few weeks - but there's not as much 'cascade' aroma as I was hoping for. Would there be any advantage in tossing another bag of Cascade into the wort now (without steeping first) and leaving it for a few days before kegging it up?

Would this be likely to increase the aroma without making it more bitter?

Thanks.

 

[adryargument]

Yes, yes, and yes.
During fermentation the CO2 does remove some of the hop aroma.

Rule 1 of brewing: If in doubt, add more hops.

 

[slash22000]

Dry hopping should only be done post-fermentation.

 

[82Mike]

Dry hopping should only be done post-fermentation.

Thanks for clarifying. But, as I say, my wort is definitely bitter enough already. Does dry hopping increase bitterness further- or just add aroma?

 

[bum]

It changes flavour some (to varying degress depending on hop/amounts/contact time) but more so aroma. Bitterness will be fine (or at least basically unchanged).

Lots of people dry hop before fermentation is entirely complete. Don't think like it is a rule that it only happens once primary is complete.

[EDIT: so many typos!]

 

[Nick JD]

I find dry hopping before the end of primary gets most of the aroma, and none of the grassiness.

Dry hopping after the yeast have become inactive gives me vegetal tastes.

 

[bum]

Only aroma.

That is complete ********.

Quit smoking. Taste stuff.

 

[Impy]

"Dry Hopping Post-fermentation: Will It Do Anything?"

Dry hopping is usually done post fermentation. And yes it will do something.. that's why people dry hop. It adds more aroma and flavour than bitterness

 

[tricache]

I find dry hopping before the end of primary gets most of the aroma, and none of the grassiness.

Dry hopping after the yeast have become inactive gives me vegetal tastes.

I found the same, I have done 2 IPAs which were identical apart from when I threw in hops and I can taste the difference between the two (one is grassy and one isn't)

 

[slash22000]

I found the same, I have done 2 IPAs which were identical apart from when I threw in hops and I can taste the difference between the two (one is grassy and one isn't)

So when exactly did you add your hops? Before final gravity was reached? How soon before? This idea of dry hopping before fermentation is finished being superior is new to me.

 

[tricache]

So when exactly did you add your hops? Before final gravity was reached? How soon before? This idea of dry hopping before fermentation is finished being superior is new to me.

Before - 2 days before fermentation had finished

After - 2 days after fermentation had finished

 

[Yob]

more frequent dry hopping after half ferment for bigger beers APA AIPA IIPA), half of OG, 3 days later another dose, 3 days later another dose keg/bottle after an overnight sit... it really depends on the beer, that was a hopping schedule for a recent IIPA... matter of fact Ive got one in the fridge.. gotta go :lol:

 

[82Mike]

I've dry hopped a 12g bag of Cascade hops in 10 hours ago and already there's a noticeable increase in the aroma and the bitterness has mellowed a whole lot. I am thinking of chucking another bag (or even two).

 

[bum]

You used the word "only", proudbag.

 

[bluedoors]

My understanding is that bitterness comes from the Alpha Acids in hops. These are isomerised at higher temperatures (ie when boiling the wort), but the aroma comes more from the Beta Acids, which don't isomerise. So i typically dry-hop with hi Beta-Acid hops at the end of fermentation, so that the production of CO2 doesn't bleed out the aromas.

 

[Nick JD]

Aroma and flavour are the same thing. Your nose does most of the "tasting" - it's why you can't taste **** when you have a head cold and why Aussie Lagers are best drank out of the bottle.

Hop flavour and aroma comes from things ending in "...ene" like Humulene (bitterness comes from things ending in "...one" like Humulone).

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/sewal...stry%20101.html

 

[jammer]

Aroma and flavour are the same thing. Your nose does most of the "tasting" - it's why you can't taste **** when you have a head cold and why Aussie Lagers are best drank out of the bottle.

Hop flavour and aroma comes from things ending in "...ene" like Humulene (bitterness comes from things ending in "...one" like Humulone).

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/sewal...stry%20101.html

Aroma and taste the same thing?? I can smell (and taste ********!

 

[jammer]

My understanding is that bitterness comes from the Alpha Acids in hops. These are isomerised at higher temperatures (ie when boiling the wort), but the aroma comes more from the Beta Acids, which don't isomerise. So i typically dry-hop with hi Beta-Acid hops at the end of fermentation, so that the production of CO2 doesn't bleed out the aromas.

Good solid answer based on scientific fact!

 

[glenwal]

Aroma and taste the same thing?? I can smell (and taste ********!

Try pinching your nose and drinking a beer.

 

[tricache]

Try pinching your nose and drinking a beer.

Or eating bread while smelling vanilla essence...your body will trick you into thinking you are eating ice cream...the body is a crazy thing to mess with

 

[NewtownClown]

Aroma and taste the same thing?? I can smell (and taste ********!

I think it is a poor attempt at Pommy humour...

 

[NewtownClown]

Or eating bread while smelling vanilla essence...your body will trick you into thinking you are eating ice cream...the body is a crazy thing to mess with

Actually, it is your mind ******* with you.

Bodies are WONDERFUL things to mess with...

 

[gravey]

grassiness comes from the amount you use and the time you dry hop in my experience and has little to do with post/pre fermentation, though adding pre FG will certainly mellow the whole lot out. I've found the freshest aroma comes from additions post fermentation, if you are getting grassiness, back off time and/or amount.

 

[jammer]

Try pinching your nose and drinking a beer.

I understand they are linked. But for the purposes of this thread, taste and aroma are very different. Why not just smell a good beer, while drinking a crap one then?

 

[tricache]

I understand they are linked. But for the purposes of this thread, taste and aroma are very different. Why not just smell a good beer, while drinking a crap one then?

Tried it...works like a gem LOL Corona with a nice hoppy pale ale under the nose

 

[jammer]

Tried it...works like a gem LOL Corona with a nice hoppy pale ale under the nose

The only way to drink corona, Got forced to drink one at a work BBQ last week. Wish I'd have thought about that!

 

[tricache]

The only way to drink corona, Got forced to drink one at a work BBQ last week. Wish I'd have thought about that!

We are the same at work, Friday beers are usually Coronas or Crownies...I bring my own most of the time LOL

 

[Silvern]

Dry hopping a wheat beer with 25g hallertau right now! Dropped in 4 days into primary fermentation, looking forward to the results

 

[Florian]

Don't do it!
I mean do it and find out, but in general I wouldn't dry hop a wheat beer and on top of that I wouldn't dry hop any beer with Hallertauer.

But maybe I got it all wrong and you're onto a winner, let us know.

 

[sydneyhappyhour]

The Murrays Grand Gru is dry hopped with Halletau as far as I know and its a great drop. I say throw the hops in have a homebrew and relax.....