[yeastmaster]

Does using hop bags have much of an impact on hop utilization?  My last IPA really didn't come out as hoppy as I was expecting.  I typically use pellet hops and until recently just threw them in when I brewed but have tried switching to keeping my hops in hopbags because I was having problems with the hop debris clogging up my manifold.....

[Thirsty_Monk]

People say that you use a little bit utilization.
I recently used hop bag and I got very little utilization.

[bluesman]

It can have a slight impact but I don't think it's anything to worry about. I use hop bags and I get excellent hop bitterness, flavor and aroma in my beer. If anything you may have to adjust your additions up in weight to accomodate the slight decrease in utilization.

[hopfenundmalz]

If you are worried about this and need to use a bag in your system, go to the big box store and get the large nylon paint strainer bag.

[chezteth]

I have heard that using hop bags can effect utilization by, up to, 10%.  I use a coarse, nylon straining bag that I picked up at my LHBS for my hop additions.  I feel it allows better utilization than the regular hop bags and still keeps most of the hop matter out of the wort.

[glastctbrew]

I've been round and round on the hop bag issue.  I just feel better letting the hops float free in the wort.  I currently use a whirlpool immersion chiller and have been moving towards whole hops that I've been bagging. I was thinking of using a false bottom in the BK instead.  Any thoughts on this as an alternative to the bags?

[maxieboy]

I've been round and round on the hop bag issue.  I just feel better letting the hops float free in the wort.  I currently use a whirlpool immersion chiller and have been moving towards whole hops that I've been bagging. I was thinking of using a false bottom in the BK instead.  Any thoughts on this as an alternative to the bags?

Bag the bags. Go with the FB or a "hop taco".

[yeastmaster]

If you are worried about this and need to use a bag in your system, go to the big box store and get the large nylon paint strainer bag.

That is not a bad idea, I might try that.  My kettle has a circular copper maifold around the bottom but I find it will clog with hops if I am using a bunch.  The original idea was to whirlpool to get the debris in the center but I have never had much success with that.

[yeastmaster]

I've been round and round on the hop bag issue.  I just feel better letting the hops float free in the wort.  I currently use a whirlpool immersion chiller and have been moving towards whole hops that I've been bagging. I was thinking of using a false bottom in the BK instead.  Any thoughts on this as an alternative to the bags?

Bag the bags. Go with the FB or a "hop taco".

This seems like a great idea also but I might start with the paint straining bag until I have a little time to work on a project

[Will's Swill]

I did side-by-side brews, discussed here http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=6581.msg79412;topicseen#msg79412.  The upshot was that most people, including myself, couldn't tell the difference between a batch using hop bags and the same batch without hop bags, but that there probably was some small utilization loss.