Hop Spider

[Beer-lord]

Anyone use one of these? I've got the torpedo for my fermenter/keg but have read this is as good as going commando. I was thinking this would be good for my 1 lb hopped beers to help keep out some of the sludge from going into the fermenter that the strainer I use lets thru. I've not used bags in a very long while and don't like them but I thought this might be a good option.

[Inkleg]

I have a Hop Bag from Wilserbrewer and have used it with great success. Especially when doing those big hop beers. I just clip it to the side of the kettle and stir every now and then.

[BlackDuck]

I have a homemade spider that I only used a couple of times. I thought the hops kind of collected together into a sludge inside the sack. After a couple of times of that, I just went commando.

[RayF]

I used one of those on my last 2 batches. It works as advertised. I purchased the hop thingy to keep the hops from circulating threw my BK pump.

[Dawg LB Steve]

It gives more room for the hops to have wort circulate around than if they were compacted in a hop sack. Is that Utah Diesel or from AIH?
Would definitely be less cleanup of the kettle and for me the CF chiller.

[Beer-lord]

Actually, the one AH sells is identical to other places though there are some others that have minor differences. My pot is taller and not as wide as many so I don't think much of the screen would actually be more than half in the wort so that if I add more than a few ounces, it has a better chance of getting clumpy without as much hop release. I've read a few reviews that say the same thing.
I'll save my money, do what's been working for me and cold crash for 2 days. It's been working well so far.

[Kealia]

I'm a commando guy, too. I Used hop bags early on but quickly went away from them because of the bunching up/compacting that I saw. Even in the big hoppy beers that I've done, I haven't had issues transferring from kettle to fermenter, nor fermenter to keg/bottle so I won't use one of these or anything similar.

Between whirfloc, a good chill, racking and cold crashing I seem to be able to manage my trub/hop sludge pretty well. I know you have issues with not being able to use your drain on the SS BrewTech so maybe something like this up-stream could help you?