Irish Moss Question

Sephro · 06-20-2006, 03:30 PM

I have always used hop pellets since most of the time my LHBS doesn't have the whole hops I am using... Anyway... On my batch of beer I started last weekend I decided to start putting the hop pellets in a bag since I am now saving my yeasts.

Should the Irish Moss be placed in the hop bag, or just in the boil?

I wasn't sure and had never thought to look so I tossed it in the bag...

**Baron von BeeGee** · 06-20-2006, 03:34 PM

It should definitely be in the kettle and not in the bag. Irish moss and hops are unrelated...the Irish moss binds with proteins from the break material, not the hops.

**Baron von BeeGee** · 06-20-2006, 03:35 PM

BTW, your username looks familiar...are you on nabisco by any chance? Trying to figure it out...

Sephro · 06-20-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron von BeeGee

BTW, your username looks familiar...are you on nabisco by any chance? Trying to figure it out...

Yes I am

Oh well so what will the negatives be for this brew? Just little cloudy?

**Baron von BeeGee** · 06-20-2006, 03:53 PM

That's about the only negative. I imagine the Irish moss would bind with any proteins that made it into the bag (if any could fit through the mesh). Or perhaps some of the carageenan (the substance in the Irish moss that does the work) made it out. In any case, some cold conditioning time will solve any clarity issue which is primarily aesthetic in the first place.

Sephro · 06-20-2006, 04:10 PM

Okay. Thanks! I'm not too worried about a little haze in this one.. I'll just be pleased if it turns out any bit decent.. Was a fighter of a batch...

homebrewer_99 · 06-20-2006, 04:18 PM

Here's a tip: Your beer tastes good, but looks hazy? Drink from a ceramic mug!

Sephro · 06-20-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebrewer_99

Here's a tip: Your beer taste good, but looks hazy? Drink from a ceramic mug!

:lol: Or what has worked for me in the past is drink it down really fast before anyone sees

clayof2day · 06-20-2006, 05:25 PM

another option is to whirlpool your cooled wort before siphoning into the fermenter. It works really well and you leave behind almost all the hop pellet material and a lot of the break material. This will let you get yeast out of the primary withough hops and without using a bag.

If you're intersted do a search on whirlpoooling, there was a great discussion/tutorial about it a while back, I think Cheyco was in charge there.

Sephro · 06-20-2006, 05:34 PM

Hrmn.... I think I may try whirlpooling it.
This is the thread you were referring to correct? http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/whirlpool-big-how-7682/?highlight=whirlpool

Thanks!