Aw D$%&, I forgot the Irish Moss!

[Homercidal]

Brewed a Blonde ale last weekend and just realized I forgot the irish moss (actually, whirlfloc...) at the end of the boil!

Everything went pretty good, pH, efficiency, volumes, etc.

I pitched US-05 on well-oxygenated wort and krausen was climbing 2 days later (I didn't check the day after pitching...)

Now I'm wondering if I'm going to have to add a fining agent to get this really clear. My plan was to rack to secondary and after a couple of days chill down to almost lagering temps for 2-3 weeks.

I mean, I don't need it to be sparkling, crystal clear, but I wonder how cloudy it's going to be in the end.

I need Beersmith to print in BIG BOLD LETTERS, "DON'T FORGET THE IRISH MOSS!!"

 

[bob1852]

gelatin and cold crash, FTW!

 

[BrettV]

Or you just have cloudy beer. It's pretty much just aesthetic. RDWHAHB.

 

[LandoLincoln]

Ayup. Gelatin and cold crashing will get you some super clear beer.

 

[Homercidal]

gelatin and cold crash, FTW!

Yeah, I guess so. I'm just pissed this happens way too often. My experience with gelatin hasn't bee great thus far. I've tried it on two beers and I didn't notice a real improvement on either. The second was a Rye Pale Ale that had a lot of rye in it. Both the US-05 and the S-04 ferments turned out the same.

Or you just have cloudy beer. It's pretty much just aesthetic. RDWHAHB.

I don't mind it if most beers are a bit cloudy, or has some chill haze. I'm used to fairly cloudy IPAs and such. But I really wanted to try and make sure all my steps were done right, and I hoped to be able to share this with some non-homebrew people and not scare them away with it.

I've had issues with some blonde ales before (And brewed a few mice ones). I really just wanted to get it right this time. A light, well balanced, clear, summer ale.

 

[Homercidal]

So I guess I rack to secondary, chill down and let it sit for a while, then pitch gelatin when I rack to the keg?

 

[atom]

So I guess I rack to secondary, chill down and let it sit for a while, then pitch gelatin when I rack to the keg?

that'll work. i forgot whirlfloc in my last saison...gelatin cleared it up.

 

[Zoidberg]

I would just give it extra time. I've had wheats with no whirlfloc or gel pour crystal clear after 4 weeks in car boy and 3 weeks in bottle.

 

[Temptd2]

I've had issues with some blonde ales before (And brewed a few mice ones). I really just wanted to get it right this time. A light, well balanced, clear, summer ale.

Did you put the mice in at flameout, or in the secondary?

The little buggers are FAST. I find flameout works best. They squeak for a second, then - silence.

 

[TheCanisDirus]

I would just give it extra time. I've had wheats with no whirlfloc or gel pour crystal clear after 4 weeks in car boy and 3 weeks in bottle.

Ditto. If you have the time 4-5 weeks will fully clear most beers in my experience. You can read a newspaper at 100 yards through my saisons after 6 weeks in carboy.

 

[TheCanisDirus]

Did you put the mice in at flameout, or in the secondary?

The little buggers are FAST. I find flameout works best. They squeak for a second, then - silence.

Just read this... I honestly laughed pretty loud... co-worker across the cube-farm asked me what's going on lol.

 

[dbkdev]

Just read this... I honestly laughed pretty loud... co-worker across the cube-farm asked me what's going on lol.

Same!

 

[hunter_le five]

So I guess I rack to secondary, chill down and let it sit for a while, then pitch gelatin when I rack to the keg?

No reason that shouldn't work.

I usually skip the secondary, and just chill in the primary for a couple days to a week. Then add gelatin to the chilled primary, and let it sit a few more days to a week. Then rack to keg and force carb/lager.

That way I don't get any gelatin or sediment in my keg, and once it's carbed-up, it's crystal clear. My last few brews have been unbelievably clear, and I'm kicking myself for ever wasting money on that plate filter that's collecting dust.

 

[Homercidal]

Did you put the mice in at flameout, or in the secondary?

The little buggers are FAST. I find flameout works best. They squeak for a second, then - silence.

Hilarious!

Too bad my cats have done their duty and cleared our property as far as I can tell. I know we have a red squirrel and a gopher of some sort hanging around. One of them found a way into our house and can be heard some times scratching in the ceiling. I just have to figure out how to get them out before I seal the access point. I'd drop either of them into the boil kettle. (Although they would be better used roasted on the grill with some bacon and a nice IPA...)

 

[Rotgut]

How clear it is, is just aesthetics. Just call it a Dirty Blonde and it'll be fine.

 

[Homercidal]

No doubt. Name it "What the FLOCC?" and BAM, instant pretentious craft beer!

 

[dobe12]

The cold conditioning will clear it up better than Irish Moss ever would, IMO.

Do you really notice a big difference using Irish Moss? I used to but stopped and didn't see a noticeable change. Maybe practices got better, cold storage in a keg helped, etc.... but I never really noticed Irish Moss getting my beers crystal clear.

 

[RmikeVT]

The beers I use Whirlfoc in are night and day when comparing clarity. Usually, cold conditioning for a time will help clear it up, so your 2-3 wk lager should help. When I forget whirlfloc usually my beer is clear by the last pint I drink.

 

[Homercidal]

I haven't really done a side-by-side, but I imagine it depends on the recipe and methods. I happen to forget to add the Irish moss/whirlfloc fairly often, so I don't know for sure how much difference it makes.

In general I don't worry too much about it if I am kegging the beer. I make IPAs regularly and Witbiers, where clarity is not a requirement. In this case I was just shootin gto get everything right and it was just one of those small details that got overlooked. At least it will give me a chance to try gelatin again, and this time I will add it before carbing.

 

[CraigKing]

Do you guys just pretty much add whirlfloc to every batch of beer you brew? Regardless of style?

 

[Hello]

Do you guys just pretty much add whirlfloc to every batch of beer you brew? Regardless of style?

I do not bother in dark beers and often forget in the light beers.

 

[Homercidal]

I used one in my porter yesterday. Wasn't really necessary, but I remembered to use it, so I did.

 

[kombat]

Do you guys just pretty much add whirlfloc to every batch of beer you brew? Regardless of style?

I omit it from my dark beers (stouts, porters), but for everything else, it's a standard part of my process.

 

[CraigKing]

Ok. My next batch on deck is a porter, but I'll toss one in anyway. Sounds like it can't hurt.

Thanks

 

[dyqik]

I use it in every beer. I can't cold crash anything until it's in kegs, as my fermentation chamber won't go below 55F, and my English ales in the cask never see temperatures below 55F anyway. The English ales are crystal clear after couple of weeks conditioning in the cask at 60F, thanks to whirlfloc and WLP002. Even my hefe has dropped clear after a month in the kegerator.

 

[nick_crank]

Is the process the same for botteling? as it seems everyone on this thread seems to be kegging. Kegging is my next step, but my brew partner is concerned about the clarity of our brews. I am not familiar with any agents to aid clarity. I have no real idea of what;whirlfloc, wlp002, irishmoss, *flocc?, or the gelatin you have spoken of are. Any info would be great, or reference to another thread. Thanks

 

[Gameface]

I don't agree that beer clarity is just aesthetic. It depends on what is causing the haze, but I've had split batches where one is cleared and the other hazy and there is a significant taste difference to me, and I much prefer the clear one.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

whenever I forget the whirlfloc or irish moss, I just slap a random person at work. it won't make my beer any clearer, but it makes me feel better.

 

[ny101]

You can always filter which is what I do most people poo poo it, but in my mind, it does what others wait weeks for in about 2-3 minutes.

 

[jiggs_casey]

damnit, this thread just reminded me that I forgot whirlfloc today...