Cold Crash vessel

[BA_Brewer]

I've had my first ever batch in primary fermentation for 3 weeks (it's a Fat Tire extract clone). I want to cold crash it to get some clarity but I have a question about the vessel.

Do I leave it in the primary for the cold crash, rack it to a secondary or go ahead and keg it before the cold crash?

It's in a plastic 6.5 gal big mouth bubble. Secondary would be a glass 5 gal cayboy. keg option is a 5 gal corney keg.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Hoppity]

if you have an extra keg, I like to transfer to keg, cold crash, then push to serving keg. Saves space in fridge and reduces oxidation risk. Also leaves spent yeast behind, making travel with keg less cloudy. Otherwise, I'd just crash the primary, then keg.

 

[JimRausch]

The purpose of a cold crash is to get more clearing, so I would do it in the primary for a week or so to allow things to settle, then rack to your keg.

 

[doug293cz]

No sense racking to another vessel to cold crash. Crash it in your primary vessel and then package. Extra transfers have more downside than upside.

Brew on

 

[BA_Brewer]

Thanks for the advice. I'll just leave it in the primary until I'm ready to keg.

 

[shortyz]

had a few beers that i gelatin'd and cold crashed that chill hazed. impossible to get out, just a heads up if this happens to you.

 

[doug293cz]

had a few beers that i gelatin'd and cold crashed that chill hazed. impossible to get out, just a heads up if this happens to you.

Did you add the gelatin to warm beer or cold beer when you got the permanent chill haze?

Brew on

 

[C-Rider]

No need Gel... Just put frementer in the fridge/freezer and get it down to like 32*F

 

[Hello]

had a few beers that i gelatin'd and cold crashed that chill hazed. impossible to get out, just a heads up if this happens to you.

How did you add the gelatin? I thought you had to add it after cold crashing. I know very little about it but I wouldn't think it would create permanent chill haze if done right. Or could it?

 

[shortyz]

How did you add the gelatin? I thought you had to add it after cold crashing. I know very little about it but I wouldn't think it would create permanent chill haze if done right. Or could it?

you can add it before cold crashing or add it at room temp... chill haze is caused by some weird proteins in some brews, not quite sure on the science but gelatin does not cause it

 

[doug293cz]

Most of the recommendations I have seen say to chill the beer before adding the gelatin. I believe this is so the gelatin can help precipitate out the chill haze.

EDIT: Here's a link with more info on gelatin helping with chill haze when added to cold beer: http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.ca/2013/01/brewing-science-gelatin-clearing-beer.html#more

Brew on

 

[Black Island Brewer]

The chill haze will settle out on its own if you give it enough time, the gelatin, added after the chill haze has formed, will speed the clearing time. Hot gelatin added to cold beer can congeal, however, and I've found that gentle stirring after adding it will help prevent this.

If you do rack to a keg and chill, you could dispense right off of that, however unless you've cut your dip tube, you might get sludge for the first couple pints.