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Hops Cannon / Hopsgun
A hop cannon is a device used in breweries, primarily in craft and microbreweries, for dry hopping beer. Dry hopping is the process of adding hops to beer after fermentation to enhance its aroma and flavor without adding significant bitterness.
The hop cannon typically consists of a vessel or chamber where hops are loaded, often in pellet form, and pressurized with carbon dioxide (CO2). When the beer passes through the hop cannon, the pressurized hops are released into the beer stream, allowing them to mix thoroughly and infuse the beer with hop aroma and flavor.
The use of a hop cannon can provide a more efficient and controlled method of dry hopping compared to traditional methods such as adding hops directly to the fermenter. It allows brewers to precisely control the amount of hops added and ensures even distribution throughout the beer, resulting in a consistent and flavorful final product. Additionally, hop cannons can be designed to be easily integrated into existing brewing systems, offering brewers flexibility in their dry hopping processes.
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The NFE Hopsgun is a professional, portable, and pressurized hop-dosing system engineered to revolutionize the dry-hopping process. It addresses the critical challenges of traditional methods—such as oxygen ingress, inefficient extraction, and operational hassles—by providing a closed, controlled, and highly efficient solution for introducing hops into beer at any stage of fermentation or maturation.
1. Core Function & Operating Principle
The Hopsgun operates on a simple yet brilliant principle: closed-loop, oxygen-free transfer.
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Loading: The removable stainless steel cylinder is filled with hop pellets or cones.
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Purging & Pressurization: The chamber is purged and pressurized with CO₂ (or beer itself), creating a neutral or positive pressure environment that matches or exceeds the pressure inside the fermenter.
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Injection: The Hopsgun is connected to a fermenter port (e.g., a sample valve) via a sanitary tri-clamp fitting. Once connected, the internal valve is opened. The pressure differential forces the hops from the cylinder directly into the fermenter without any air contact.
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Optional Recirculation: On advanced models, a brief recirculation cycle can be initiated to help distribute the hops evenly throughout the tank for maximum extraction.
2. Key Design Features & Technology
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Oxygen-Free Injection: This is the cornerstone benefit. The entire process is hermetic, completely eliminating oxygen pickup, which is vital for preserving hop vibrancy and beer shelf-life.
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Modular Filter Cylinder: The heart of the system is a precision-machined, fine-mesh stainless steel filter cylinder.
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Pre-Filling: Cylinders can be pre-filled for rapid, efficient dry-hopping during critical aroma windows.
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Easy Cleaning: The entire cylinder is removable for straightforward cleaning and sanitization.
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Recipe Flexibility: Multiple cylinders allow for different hop combinations to be prepared and used sequentially or on different tanks.
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Sanitary Construction: Built to NFE’s high standards using 304 or 316L Stainless Steel with food-grade seals (Silicone or EPDM), ensuring full compatibility with beer and CIP chemicals.
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Ergonomic & User-Friendly Design:
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Sanitary Quick-Connects: For fast and secure attachment to fermenters.
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Pressure Gauge & Gas Inlet: Standard ports for controlled pressurization and monitoring.
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Intuitive Valving: Robust hand valves allow for precise control over the injection process.
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Pressurized System: Enables reliable transfer even into unitanks under pressure, eliminating the need to relieve tank pressure and risk CO₂ loss or oxygen ingress.
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Key Benefits for the Brewer
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Maximized Aroma Extraction: The pressurized injection and potential recirculation ensure superior hop-to-beer contact, leading to more efficient oil extraction and a more intense aromatic profile compared to simple top-dropping.
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Ultimate Oxidation Prevention: The closed system is the most effective way to protect hop-sensitive beers like Hazy IPAs, ensuring the final product tastes as fresh as the day it was dry-hopped.
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Enhanced Safety & Operational Efficiency:
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No need to open fermenter manways under pressure.
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Eliminates climbing and top-down adding, reducing labor and injury risk.
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Significantly simplifies cleanup compared to whole-tank CIP.
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Improved Batch Consistency: By removing variables like oxygen exposure and uneven dispersion, the Hopsgun delivers repeatable, predictable results batch after batch.
Typical Applications
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IPA Production: Essential for New England IPAs, Double IPAs, and any hop-forward beer requiring large late-hop additions.
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Any Dry-Hopped Beer Style: From American Pale Ales to experimental hop-forward lagers.
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Pilot & R&D Batches: Ideal for small-scale hop trials with minimal risk and waste.
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Large-Scale Fermenters: Provides a safe and practical solution for dry-hopping tanks where top-access is difficult or impossible.
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