Beer Filters, Do you use one?

cjmcfoot · 10-16-2009, 09:44 PM

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_360&products_id=1419

Do any of you use these and if you do what do you think?

**Bernie Brewer** · 10-16-2009, 10:08 PM

Nope

567890

**Yooper** · 10-16-2009, 10:09 PM

I've never felt the need to filter as of yet.

**Bobby_M** · 10-16-2009, 10:16 PM

At best it's a crutch for impatient brewers, at worst it's an unnecessary cost, oxidation and contamination risk if you don't know what you're doing.

In case it wasn't obvious, you definitely need to keg to use this.

bronzdragon · 10-17-2009, 12:01 AM

I do not use them on my beers, they strip flavor that you worked hard to get into the beer ... out, along with the other stuff. I haven't really needed a filter. Primary, a couple weeks in the secondary (or longer with a big beer) and everything has usually fallen out.

I do use a filter with my still meads though, as I bottle them and like them to be sparkling clear.

~r~

McKBrew · 10-17-2009, 12:02 AM

There are so many techniques for making clear beer that do not involve filtering. No reason to use one for me.

**Coastarine** · 10-17-2009, 12:05 AM

I considered it when I recently tapped my simcoe IPA which was dry hopped with pellets in the keg using a mesh bag. Hop dust escaped the bag and made the first few pints rather harsh. I was worried that it wouldn't clear, but it has, so I'm not worried about filtering any more.

**Whutever** · 10-17-2009, 12:15 AM

Nope. Thought about it when I first started but after asking questions at LHBS decided against it.

**sudbuster** · 10-17-2009, 04:43 AM

There are a few people who are allergic to yeast. My son-in-law for instance. Filtering will not strip out flavour if beer is only polished, and is not a crutch for folks who have allergies. They like beer but the yeast does't like them. Your beer can sparkle, but yeast is still in there. The BMC bunch doesn't filter their swill to make it clear, they want everyone to drink it without problems. Only a stirile filtration will reduce flavour. Cold filtering is a process whereby most all of the yeast falls out due to chill, then the beer is filtered to get rid of almost all of the rest of it. The process works well and allows most folks to drink beer without the GI probs of homebrew and certain imports and micros (big homebrew).

The filter the OP showed wold probably work for those unfortunate few, but a better filter for all around use can be found at http://www.buonvino.com/P_SuperJet.shtml

Lando · 10-17-2009, 11:35 AM

No filter, but often use a 5 gallon paint strainer bag to help keep the trub out of primary/secondary/keg. Just be careful not to oxidize the brew.