I built a hop spider based on the instructions in Brew Your Own Magazine:
http://www.byo.com/component/resource/article/2494-build-a-hop-spider-projects
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| Not following the directions, I removed of the bottom of the PVC coupling with a hack saw. I didn't like the idea of the extra PVC in my boil. I also used only three legs, that way it will always fit (you know, 3 points define a plane in geometry). I forgot to measure the brew pot diameter, these carriage bolts just barely fit, I'll get some longer bolts next time I go to Home Depot. That will keep the whole thing from falling in the wort. |
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| When the boil is done and the wort has cooled, I'll use some sanitized latex gloves and squeeze out as much wort as I can out of the nylon hop bag. I used to just leave the trub in the fermenter, but getting rid of most of it with the hop spider allows me to put more wort into the fermenter, and hopefully a full 5 gallons racked to the corny. |
