Hop Doser in Brewing Process

If you want to add more hop flavor and aroma to your beer, dry hops are essential. Using a dry hop feeder can effectively improve an important part of the beer brewing process on a limited budget. With just a few simple tools, your favorite hops, and the right timing, you can achieve the same beer flavor and aroma as the professionals. This article will explore the knowledge related to hops, beer dosers, and more.

What is dry hopping?

The signature bitterness of most beers comes from hops. This bitterness is added by dumping hops into the wort while it is still in the brew kettle (hot side). This is called bittering.

Boiling causes the hops to release alpha and beta acids that add bitterness. But it also evaporates the essential oils that provide floral and fruity aromas.

However, adding hops at the end of the boil gives the wort a more delicate aroma and taste. But even a short boil destroys most of the hops' aromatic potency.

What is a hop doser?

A hop doser is a commonly used fermentation accessory in beer fermenters. It is usually located at the top of the fermenter and is used to exhaust air.

Hops are prepared and then placed in a single tank. Oxygen is the enemy of the fresh flavor and hop characteristics of beer.

Therefore, it is very important to avoid the introduction of oxygen during the drying process. A hop doser can help you maintain the hop characteristics of craft beer longer and enhance the flavor and aroma of hops.

Reasons to use a dry hop feeder

• Make sure the doser and the connection to the tank are clean and sanitized

• Connect the door to the tank

• Purge the hop doser several times with CO2 to ensure that oxygen is removed

• Add hops to the doser and close

• Re-clean the feeder

• Keep the pressure of the dry hop feeder above the pressure of the tank to be dosed

• Open the valve and pour hops into the tank

• Close the tank valve and release the pressure in the doser

• Repeat this process if you need to dosing multiple brews

• When removing the door, make sure the tank valve is closed and there is no pressure in the unit.

How to use for brewing

• Connect the drying hopper to the water tank

• Add hops to Dry Hopper and turn off

• Purge the hop dry hopper several times with CO2 to ensure oxygen removal

• Pressurize the dry hopper so that the psi is higher than the pressure of the tank to be dosed

• Open the valve and pour the hops into the tank

• Close tank valve and relieve pressure in doser

• This process can be repeated if you need more than one hop load for brewing

• When removing the Doser, make sure the tank’s valve is closed and there is no pressure in the device.