Clogged With Hops

[ScrewyBrewer]

It finally happened to me, hops clogged the pickup tube in one of the kegs. I soaked 4 ounces of hops, put inside a hop bag weighed down with some stainless steel hardware to keep them submerged. They sat for 2 weeks inside the refrigerator, carbonating and conditioning. Last night when I tapped the keg and tried to pour a glass for my enjoyment, the beer wouldn't pour.

After taking the dip tube out and cleaning it 3 times, the beer seems to be flowing now, although it had some hop debris floating in the glass. Has anyone figured out a good way to prevent this from happening? I already cut a half inch off the pick up tube to raise it off the bottom trub, but apparently it still couldn't handle that many hops.

[Beer-lord]

I just had that same problem with my NEIPA. I haven't cut the tube and just pull it out and hope I keep things clean enough not to be a problem. And, I used a screen for most of the hops in the fermenter but there were just too much.
The hops get almost gluey when they clog the bottom and I've tried blowing CO2 thru it with no luck.

[ScrewyBrewer]

I just had that same problem with my NEIPA. I haven't cut the tube and just pull it out and hope I keep things clean enough not to be a problem. And, I used a screen for most of the hops in the fermenter but there were just too much.
The hops get almost gluey when they clog the bottom and I've tried blowing CO2 thru it with no luck.

I also tried blasting them out with Co2, but had to unscrew the post and remove the tube and poppit to keep it unclogged. The first keg used the same bag type and hop amount but didn't clog up. I think from just sitting cold waiting its turn to be tapped the goo was able to compact more in the second keg.

[Inkleg]

We're there hops in the tube clogging it or could the hop bag have been sucked up into the tube?
I've not had this happen, but I only keg hopped twice with a REALLY FINE weave hop sack before getting a SS Hop tube.

[BlackDuck]

before getting a SS Hop tube.

And they even make a keg lid with a tab welded on so you can hang the SS hop tube from.

[Kealia]

I've kegged hopped a few times and the only time I had a clogged line was when I (stupidly) went commando.

That time I had to siphon the beer to a new keg because there was so much trub/hop debris.

[RayF]

We're there hops in the tube clogging it or could the hop bag have been sucked up into the tube?
I've not had this happen, but I only keg hopped twice with a REALLY FINE weave hop sack before getting a SS Hop tube.

+1

[ScrewyBrewer]

We're there hops in the tube clogging it or could the hop bag have been sucked up into the tube?
I've not had this happen, but I only keg hopped twice with a REALLY FINE weave hop sack before getting a SS Hop tube.

The hop bag was weighted down but suspended about 6 inches from the keg bottom. The hop debris had a consistency of thick sand, and was sucked into the pickup tube where it clogged the ball lock poppet. After pouring about 4 beers, each having less floaties than the last, the beers are pouring clean and clear now.

[BlackDuck]

Glad it worked itself out. I have had hop debris get caught on the poppet spring also, but never enough to completely kill the flow of the great beer inside the keg.

[ScrewyBrewer]

Glad it worked itself out. I have had hop debris get caught on the poppet spring also, but never enough to completely kill the flow of the great beer inside the keg.

Thank you. I agree, the extra work involved, clearing hops from the pickup tube is well worth the effort. I will be repeating the same process with another 10 gallons of the same beer in 2 weeks.

[Dawg LB Steve]

Now that it is running clearer you might want to do a keg to keg transfer.

[ScrewyBrewer]

Now that it is running clearer you might want to do a keg to keg transfer.

Good point Steve, thank you. I have already started keg to growler and glass transfers....but I may do that for the next batch in a few weeks.

[Kealia]

I have already started keg to growler and glass transfers....

Hehehehe........

[The_Professor]

I was glad to hear that the subject line referred to your keg and not you personally.

[ScrewyBrewer]

I was glad to hear that the subject line referred to your keg and not you personally.

Haha, good one[emoji482]


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