Dry Hopping Temperature

Ingredients
1

I know there was a recent discussion about dry hopping where we discussed the effects of temperature on dry hopping but I can’t find the thread.

I’ve been dry hopping in the keg for some time now. Usually dropping a bag of hops into the keg and racking the beer in, then putting it in the conditioning fridge and on gas. I had not been happy of late with the aroma I was getting from the DH.

This last 10 gallon batch I followed that MO with one 5 gal keg. The other keg DH’d at room temp for 5 days prior to chilling and putting on gas.

I found the keg that was left at room temp for 5 days had much better aroma than the one that went right in the fridge.

Anyone else care to share their experiences with regard to this?

2

I’ve never compared, but I have heard that it will take longer at colder temps. Perhaps the cold keg hadn’t reached full potential at tasting. How long had they sat before tapping?

3

60F for about a week, then into the fridge does the trick for me.

4

I think it’s more related to the temperature. Both were given the same amount of time to condition.

5

From what I’ve read, dry hopping should definitely be done out of the fridge in the mid-upper 60 degree range. I always dry hop in the keg now but my SOP is to drop in the bag of hops for 4-10 days depending on the recipe in my basement which averages 65 year round before putting it into the kegerator to carb. I leave the hops in the keg for the duration of the keg.

:beers:
Rad

1 Like
6

Next 10 gal. brew I’ll have to try both ways to see if I can notice a difference. I plan on brewing an ESB this weekend, maybe I can bump it up to 10.

7

That’s my new MO. I had a couple Bell’s 2 hearted ales tonight. I find Bell’s to be a bit inconsistent. Sometimes they’re great…others…not so much…maybe it’s the travel from Michigan to Virginia?

Anyway…the ones I had tonight reminded me of my IPA DH’d in the fridge…just not enough aroma.

8

You are correct, warmer is better. I even try to keep it in the mid 70’s for 3-5 days.

9

I have 10 gals of ESB in primary at a week. The plan is to keg hop both, one in the fridge, one out.
Not that I doubt anyone’s results, just curious if I can notice a difference.