Beer clarity and how it relates ?

rescue brew · 05-19-2008, 08:51 PM

I just bottled two batches this weekend. I did not use a secondary for clarity. Both beers (APA and American Wheat) both sat in primary for three weeks.

How, if at all, does clarity affect the finished product in regard to taste or mouth feel?

Thanks !

**BierMuncher** · 05-19-2008, 08:59 PM

I think it's psychological. I doubt that a blind tasting would reveal any discernible difference.

But after all, we taste with more than our mouth. Once you've seen what you're about to consume, you're already developing a bias.

**the_bird** · 05-19-2008, 09:01 PM

Get a ceramic mug and see if the beer tastes better....

I will say, though, that it bothered me *a little* that the Victory Prima Pils i was drinking had a bit of a haze to it. For something like an American Wheat, I expect it's going to be somewhat cloudy.

rescue brew · 05-19-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

Get a ceramic mug and see if the beer tastes better....

Thats what I thought.

CHEERS !

Hikeon3 · 05-19-2008, 10:25 PM

Initial taste, I don't think it has much if any difference.

But as for aging a beer, from what I've read the solids in beer turn faster than the beer itself. So if your beer is hazy, it has more suspended solids in it and has the chance of turning more quickly.

That's purely from other threads I've read. Not from experience. Grain of salt as always.

rescue brew · 05-20-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikeon3

Initial taste, I don't think it has much if any difference.

But as for aging a beer, from what I've read the solids in beer turn faster than the beer itself. So if your beer is hazy, it has more suspended solids in it and has the chance of turning more quickly.

That's purely from other threads I've read. Not from experience. Grain of salt as always.

I certainly dont age any brew. Between my wife, myself(mostly) , and sharing with friends... HB goes pretty quick in my house.

BrosBrew · 05-20-2008, 06:55 PM

What about before you bottle, get the beer that is in the secondary to 32 degrees or maybe a shade cooler. Would this get rid of a lot of haze without affecting the integrity of the beer?

**Desert Monkey** · 05-22-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrosBrew

What about before you bottle, get the beer that is in the secondary to 32 degrees or maybe a shade cooler. Would this get rid of a lot of haze without affecting the integrity of the beer?

Don't know if it's got a grain of truth to it, but when I asked around on cooling down my secondary to clear it up, I was told not to bother.

I just put the carboy up high a few hours before I racked to my keg, and kept things still as I did - came out pretty clear. No need to chill. Course, out here in the desert, chilling is not always easy......