Holp!

[GeezyPeezy]

Hi guys!

Can someone tell me what is the difference between whole and pellet hops?

Is it one pellet to one flower?
Any pros or cons of using a particular type?
Is one more potent?

I'm dry hopping a Cascade SMaSH with pellets (previously only ever used whole hops) this weekend and I've just had a brain fart about it.

Lastly, sorry if I've asked in the wrong place!

 

[mike77]

My preference is now pellets for dry hopping. They sink down after several days and don't block syphons and taps.

Conversely I prefer full flowers in the boil. The pellets tend to block the mesh filter on my boiling pot.

I also suspect that the smaller hop particles in pellets will release more aroma when dry hopping but I've not compared side by side.

 

[Notlaw]

I know some people have said that you get more consistent results with pellets over leaf.

Hope that holps :wink:

 

[Covrich]

Either is fine both have advantages and disadvantages..

Make sure you specify on a recipe builder if you're using pellet or hops.. Pellets I think are a bit more efficient. Leaf got to admit feels nicer and they can filter hop filters better but also suck up more wort.

Either is fine, if I was told I could only ever use one type again I would opt for Pellet

 

[Leon103]

There are so many arguments over which is best. And some of that depends on your equipment. You will need less pellets in your recipe compared to leaf versions

 

[Slid]

My preference is now pellets for dry hopping. They sink down after several days and don't block syphons and taps.

Conversely I prefer full flowers in the boil. The pellets tend to block the mesh filter on my boiling pot.

I also suspect that the smaller hop particles in pellets will release more aroma when dry hopping but I've not compared side by side.

I would tend to agree with this analysis. Thanks, Mike!

 

[dan125]

I would tend to agree with this analysis. Thanks, Mike!

Me too - thanks Mike and Slid!

 

[geetee]

I have almost always used leaf and only recently with the Slovenian hops started with the pellets. I did find the flavour just as good if not better however Hops in the boil form a lovely filter on the false bottom that you do not get with the pellets. resulting wort from pellets is more cloudy going into fermenter. This is not a massive problem but going from leaf to hops it does seem like a step downwards when you see this.

 

[GeezyPeezy]

My preference is now pellets for dry hopping. They sink down after several days and don't block syphons and taps.

Conversely I prefer full flowers in the boil. The pellets tend to block the mesh filter on my boiling pot.

I also suspect that the smaller hop particles in pellets will release more aroma when dry hopping but I've not compared side by side.

The owner of a local brewery pretty much told me the same about the flowers. He said they act in a similar way to the grain in the mash as a secondary filter for the trub.

 

[Alan_H]

Just don't use whole hops for cold-hopping unless you like it messy. Pellets are better for that since they tend to settle down on the bottom of FV.
Otherwise for boiling it doesn't really matter.