Dry Hopping Question

[Craigerrr]

So far whenever I have done dry hop additions I have put the hops in a sterilized a muslin bag and added to the fermenter.
I have one wide mouth glass fermenter, and one narrow neck (carboy). It is easy to add the bag to the wide mouth, but a pain to add it to the carboy. Even more of a pain to get it out of the carboy later...

Is there any reason I can't just add hop pellets in directly, no bag?

My next two brews will be within a few days of each other, and they both have dry hop additions.

TIA
Craigerrr

 

[J A]

The only reason the direct addition can be a problem is with harvesting and re-using yeast. I always assume that I won't harvest from dry-hopped beers and just throw the hops in directly. I like to dry-hop when there's still a little fermentation activity so I don't have to worry about oxidation.

 

[jmcnamara]

The pellets just seem to sit on top for me. Tied in a bag with marbles weighing it down means all the hops are totally submerged. So in theory you're getting more hop goodness

 

[ChicoBrewer]

I always just throw them in. I need to give the carboy a swirl every now and then otherwise as JC points out they float. I always wait until the yeast is done so the bubbles won't float the gunk to the top. Most of it usually ends up at the bottom. I'm considering using a tea infuser on a chain in my keg in the future.

 

[BOB357]

I've suspended one of these in fermenters with good results:

https://smile.amazon.com/OneBom-Sta...1950&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hop+strainer&psc=1

Does a good job of containment. I leave it in until after transferring to the keg. Actually thinking of using dental floss to hang it in a keg for the next IPA I brew. I have gotten more and fresher aroma keg hopping than dry hopping. Only problem I had in the past was a lot of sludge when I weighted down a hop sock and just dropped it in.

 

[Mark Farrall]

I used to, and would probably be still doing it if I didn't get problems with the hops clogging up my bottling wand.

 

[jmcnamara]

As far as removing it, the best I've found is to get the bag near the neck of the carboy then use a knife or skinny pair of scissors to cut the bag enough to let some sludge out so you can pull most of it through

 

[Hawkbox]

I always add pellets directly these days. Cold crashing will drop the hops out.

 

[Hawkbox]

The pellets just seem to sit on top for me. Tied in a bag with marbles weighing it down means all the hops are totally submerged. So in theory you're getting more hop goodness

I just wait till the hops start to settle out, they generally drop to the bottom after 3-4 days.

 

[I_playdrums]

Throw them in.

 

[GFHomebrew]

I throw mine in too the fermentor will sort things out.