Cold hopping suggestions?

I brew in glass carboys and would like to use pelletized hops in the wort after it cools. I love the aroma it imparts. When I use a nylon hops bag the flavor doesn't make it into the wort (and the bag is a !!$##@ to remove from the carboy after the hops swell).

When I just toss the hops into the carboy, they invariably plug the blow off tube and can create a real mess when the stopper blows. (but the aroma is exceptional in the finished product)

Any one have a technique for cold hopping with pellets that works?

I've tried letting them soak in water in the carboy, prior to adding the wort, but that doesn't work, they still float. The compromise is to add the hops to the wort just prior to cooling it - but it doesn't quite get the full flavor.

Is there some other way to get that subtle flavor/aroma?

Well, I can't solve your foating problem, as the hops will float, but if you add later in the fermentation process, it should allevieate the problem of sticking the airlock. Try adding about 48 hours prior to the end of fermentation, say about day 5 or so (if an ale) then let it sit on the hops for three days, this should do the trick. Another method I employ is to rack from the primary to secondary after most of the ferm stuff is done and add my dry hopping schedule at that point. Havn't clogged an airlock yet using this SOP.

Rob

I'm going to try that next (hop with primary fermentation and let it sit a little longer before racking).

A question about hopping with your secondary fermentation: Is there much carryover of hop particles into the bottles?

The larger than normal blow off hose idea that was suggested is impractical with the hose I was using. Wouldn't take a sharp bend, and the stuff entering the tube has a tendency to fall back into the carboy.

I'm going to try that next (hop with primary fermentation and let it sit a little longer before racking).

A question about hopping with your secondary fermentation: Is there much carryover of hop particles into the bottles?

The larger than normal blow off hose idea that was suggested is impractical with the hose I was using. Wouldn't take a sharp bend, and the stuff entering the tube has a tendency to fall back into the carboy.