Whirlfloc

[BackAlleyBrews]

Hello everyone, general question about using whirlfloc with an all grain bill. I had a brew day and my kits OG target was recommended to be 1.045. After my boil and whirlfloc addition plus cooling to 70 degrees, I took a sample and it was 1.030. My question is, is it possible that some of my sugars are trapped in the whirlfloc and will the yeast be able to get to it? I'm wondering if my low OG reading is false because of the whirlfloc

 

[Immocles]

Whirlfloc won’t have an effect on OG.
Was this a brew on a new system? Or a biab with a poor crush?

 

[BackAlleyBrews]

It's a fairly new system, 4 runs on it so far. No BIAB. I did read an article on whirlfloc and how it captures proteins (sugars) and drops them to the bottom.

 

[brewbama]

I have never had an experience where whirlfloc was the cause for erroneous OG reading.

 

[camonick]

I would guess there is a problem somewhere else. I have also never heard of whirlfloc affecting post boil gravity readings. What was the recipe? And did you verify the grain weights were correct?

 

[Immocles]

I have zero experience in non BIAB, so I don't have much to add as far as lower than expected OG issues on more traditional methods.
I've never had issues with whirlfloc and I use it for every single brew. Something else would be the culprit for the low OG.

 

[DBhomebrew]

proteins (sugars)

Proteins aren't sugars. Nor the other way around.

 

[MaxStout]

Target OG is 1.045, but yours measured at 1.030. There are many possible causes for this, but Whirlfloc isn't one of them. Could be:
Mash temp way off.
Incomplete conversion in the mash.
Your hydrometer is off.
Boiloff less than expected.
Poor crush, resulting in less extraction.

Whirlfloc helps precipitate proteins and other solids in suspension. It doesn't affect sugars.

 

[day_trippr]

Add "pH way off" to the list of possibilities.

Welcome to the forums, @BackAlleyBrews

Cheers!

 

[NSMikeD]

Proteins aren't sugars. Nor the other way around.

amino acids are to proteins as sugars are to starches Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins and sugars are the building blocks to starches. Took 45 year for me to use my high school science.

 

[Jag75]

I think the culprit is the kit . They never seem to be crushed right. Add to the fact he's only had 4 runs on this system . How'd the other 3 go? What's the set up? What was the process?

 

[hotbeer]

Sugars dissolve in water. So anything that is wet will have about the same sugar to water ratio in it. So no, the whirlfloc didn't cause you to have less of a OG.

That'd be one or several of the many things others have mentioned.