Fining question

[ThreeDogsNE]

I brewed a pale ale a couple of weeks ago, and forgot the Whirlfloc. It is very cloudy. I pitched US-05, and it looks done. The air locks have gone still, and I am ready to keg it as a bright tank. It still has krausen. I have shaken it repeatedly, but the krausen persists. I was planning to use gelatin as a fining. I'm not sure whether to increase the amount of gelatin, or quite what to do with that when the krausen won't fall. Has anyone dealt with this before?

 

[pm5k00]

Take some gravity readings over 2 or 3 days to be sure, even without airlock activity fermentation may not be done.

 

[ThreeDogsNE]

Bright tank = secondary fermenter. Not saying it's done. Had the same persistent krausen with a wheat beer brewed the following week. For it, I.G.= 1.053. Gravity on transfer today 1.017. No finings for the wheat beer, as cloudy is fine for that. I would like a clearer clearer pale ale. Has anyone else put gelatin on top of a krausen that won't drop?

 

[ozzy1038]

I have used whirfloc in every batch so have not had similar results yet. Why not just siphon under the krausen into secondary?

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I ferment in a Sanke, so I can never actually see the beer, but I ferment a lot with US-05 and use gelatin. I typically add the gelatin 3 days prior to kegging, and crash-cool for those 3 days to drop as much sediment as I can out of it.

So I'd say you have no problem adding gelatin, *assuming* it's actually done.

I would NOT add gelatin until you're sure you're at FG. Given that US-05 can often go >80% apparent attenuation, I'd be very careful to ensure it's done.