Cloudy Or Clear --- And Why?

[GHBWNY]

I'm fairly new, and from what I have been reading on HBTF, there is an emphasis on achieving clarity in certain brews when and where possible. While level of clarity is an aspect of style (and tradition), does clarity have a practical application?

IOW, I am brewing an American Wheat right now and it's at FG and I expect to be bottling soon. It has a slight cloudiness, which is traditional. But is there any benefit, i.e., improved taste, drinkability, shelf-life, aesthetic appeal, etc., to making an attempt to further clear the beer? Or will doing so have a negative impact on what it was intended to be?

Just curious as to what circumstances cause some to strive for clarity while others do not.

 

[fuelish]

Pretty sure I know the answer, but curious as to why some strive for clarity and others do not.

Because some prefer clarity and some don't care....I personally don't give a crap about "tradition," and don't particularly care if a homebrew is crystal clear or not ... good flavor/mouthfeel is what matters to me....leave clarity or lack of to competition judging .
..

 

[TheOrlandoGuy]

I think if you want to stay true to the "style" of beer you're brewing, worry about clarity. If not, it doesn't matter. I think its just a matter of personal preference, or if brewing for a larger audience (commercially) aesthetics of the product.

Personally, I like hazy, unfiltered beer like in traditional Belgians or Hefeweizens. I don't think it has any affect on what you mentioned above regarding taste or shelf life, especially if you're like me and drink a batch within 2 months of kegging it.

 

[opiate82]

I view clearing beer like plating food. It adds no value whatsoever to the taste, but the overall presentation and eating experience is enhanced by taking the extra time to "make it pretty." Same with beer.

I think where clearing beer has the largest impact is when you are serving it to those who are skeptical of homebrewers which, from what I have seen, is still a large percentage of beer drinkers even with the craft beer boom. It adds a level of polish that makes you more comparable to their favorite professional produced beers, rather than what they probably initially thought when they heard homebrewer, which is the guy from the BWW commercial.

 

[fearwig]

I used to say F it, but a perfectly clear pale or amber ale is just so pretty you won't go back. Gelatin also means I get more volume off the cake when I bottle, so win-win. Mash and sparge acidification seem to make a difference, too (tannin extraction, chill haze).

 

[fearwig]

I view clearing beer like plating food. It adds no value whatsoever to the taste, but the overall presentation and eating experience is enhanced by taking the extra time to "make it pretty." Same with beer.

I think where clearing beer has the largest impact is when you are serving it to those who are skeptical of homebrewers which, from what I have seen, is still a large percentage of beer drinkers even with the craft beer boom. It adds a level of polish that makes you more comparable to their favorite professional produced beers, rather than what they probably initially thought when they heard homebrewer, which is the guy from the BWW commercial.

This is a great point, too. Convincing someone your beer isn't weird and bad begins before the first sip.

 

[user 144271]

If you convince more people your beer is safe, doesn't that means less beer for you?

 

[robertus]

I'd think having a clear hefe would be strange and unfamiliar to people. At least, people that know what a hefe is "supposed to" look like.

I generally don't worry too much about getting the clarity just right, but it's nice when I do.

 

[opiate82]

If you convince more people your beer is safe, doesn't that means less beer for you?

Yes, but I love to brew, so the more I share, the faster I go through my beer, the more I get to brew.

TOO much sharing gets expensive, but usually my friends are good for it in the form of reciprocal beers when I visit their place.

 

[GHBWNY]

While to some degree, our preferences for Clear VS. Cloudy are steered by what we think others might think of our beer, ultimately, we have to enjoy what we are making and tasting, or it doesn't seem worth doing.

Clarity preference aside, is there a technical difference between say, a Kristalweizen and a Hefeweizen?

 

[IJesusChrist]

Cloudy means there is something extra than clear.

Sometimes making a batch from clear to cloudy can have a significant impact on the flavor.

I noticed one year that my bottles that were clear, and my bottles that were cloudy tasted very different - from the same batch. Clear usually means keeping the flavors you were aiming for, and less of those you weren't.

 

[fearwig]

I'd think having a clear hefe would be strange and unfamiliar to people. At least, people that know what a hefe is "supposed to" look like.

I generally don't worry too much about getting the clarity just right, but it's nice when I do.

Many commercial hefes are clear until you swirl the dregs (Weihenstephaner sure is). So was mine for whatever reason, and it served as a good reminder to get those dregs in there, because there's loads of good flavor in them.

 

[Tarks]

Not only does a clear beer look better but it also tastes better.