Singletrack
Because it's judgement that defeats us.
Sometimes my hoppy beers have a slight off taste. I suspect oxidation, so I'm trying to limit exposure to air. However, I need to dry hop my IIPA in a secondary, because I need the primary for the next batch. I don't keg or have CO2, so I decided to run a blow off tube from the primary into a sealed container with an air lock of Star San. Another hose takes the CO2 (that has bubbled through the Star San) from the sealed container to an empty sanitized secondary carboy. I put some sanitized foil over the top of the secondary/hose to allow air to escape from the secondary, but keep infections out -- I hope.
When it is time to dry hop, I will remove the foil and use a funnel to add dry hops to the empty secondary, without removing the hose. Then I will disconnect the hose from the blow off container and connect it to the valve on my primary. Then I can rack through a hose that is filled with natural CO2 into a carboy that is filled with natural CO2/air, minimizing the exposure to air.
I may try to use a similar procedure with the bottling bucket -- filling it with natural CO2 from the next batch.
I'm sure this has been tried before. Successfully? Obviously, I am increasing the risk of infection. Worth it?
When it is time to dry hop, I will remove the foil and use a funnel to add dry hops to the empty secondary, without removing the hose. Then I will disconnect the hose from the blow off container and connect it to the valve on my primary. Then I can rack through a hose that is filled with natural CO2 into a carboy that is filled with natural CO2/air, minimizing the exposure to air.
I may try to use a similar procedure with the bottling bucket -- filling it with natural CO2 from the next batch.
I'm sure this has been tried before. Successfully? Obviously, I am increasing the risk of infection. Worth it?