[Beer Monger]

Do most of you use pellet hops for dry-hopping or whole hops? 

Personally, I prefer whole hops for dry-hopping, but it can sometimes be a pain to get whole hops into a carboy fermenger via the small neck.  I usually get around this by breaking up the whole hops and forcing them into the carboy through a funnell (pushing them through w/ a sanitized stick or bottling cane). 

Does anyone else have any better ideas/ways to dry-hop a beer when using carboys as fermenters? 

[ryang]

if using a carboy, I don't want the hassle, so I use pellets.
in a bucket, I'll use what I have.  no problem.

[Beer Monger]

if using a carboy, I don't want the hassle, so I use pellets.
in a bucket, I'll use what I have.  no problem.

Do you have a problem filtering out the small particles from the pellets when you rack off the 2nd fermenter? 

I guess I use whole hops also because they don't break up into such small particles and can be easily removed by racking off of them. 

[maxieboy]

I much prefer whole hops for dry hopping in a carboy.

[Beer Monger]

I much prefer whole hops for dry hopping in a carboy.

What method do you use to cram them through the neck? 

[gordonstrong]

Handle side of big wooden brewing spoon (i.e., a stick)

[maxieboy]

Handle side of big wooden brewing spoon (i.e., a stick)

This. I use a big funnel(opening is close to the size of the carboy opening) to hold the hops and push 'em in.

[Beer Monger]

Handle side of big wooden brewing spoon (i.e., a stick)

This. I use a big funnel(opening is close to the size of the carboy opening) to hold the hops and push 'em in.

OK, so pretty much what I do.  Thanks. 

[pinnah]

Same here, funnel and stick.  A bonus is the stick smells really good afterward.

On a side note, I am pretty sure the most heavenly smell in all of brewing
is the air being expelled from the carboy when racking onto these dryhops. 

Wish I could bottle that! 

[Beer Monger]

Same here, funnel and stick.  A bonus is the stick smells really good afterward.

On a side note, I am pretty sure the most heavenly smell in all of brewing
is the air being expelled from the carboy when racking onto these dryhops. 

Wish I could bottle that! 

Why hasn't anyone come up with 'Hop Cologne'?     I'd wear it!

Perhaps I just need to rub a few hops on my neck before going out for the evening....  lol

[denny]

This may be the next best thing...

http://www.hopcandyinc.com/hopolates/

[tschmidlin]

I dry hop exclusively with pellets in the carboy.  Too much of a pain for me to cram them in, or more importantly, get them out again.  But that's me.

[Hokerer]

Yep, I'm a pellets only kind of guy too

[Norm!]

yeah just pellets...easy

[Beer Monger]

Racking & dry hopping complete.

Video HERE for anyone interested.