Filtering prior to bottling

[mauer_62]

i am in the process of my first brew(long time beer drinker..first time brewer). i just recently transferred my beer to a glass carboy for secondary fermentation. i have noticed the beer is very very cloudy. my plan is to give it two weeks to settle prior to bottling. i brewed a ipa and i am not thinking the two weeks will allow for proper clearing. i was thinking about filtering the beer prior to transfer to bottling bucket. what methods are available to achieve the "standard ipa" clarity?

 

[pumpkinman2012]

Cold crash it and use Gelatin, my beer has been as clear as any commercial beer.

 

[kombat]

+1

Also, IPAs are permitted to be less than crystal clear.

 

[GammaRay4130]

I used a 5 gallon paint strainer bag in the bottling bucket and racked on top of it for an IPA a couple weeks ago. Seemed to help keep the beer pretty clear. However I also had it in the primary for 4 weeks, with the last 3 days cold crashing in the fridge.

 

[kombat]

Gamma: That sounds like a good way to oxidize your beer. How did you keep from aerating it?

 

[GammaRay4130]

The bag was all the way in the bottom of the bucket so the beer wasn't really being strained through it, more on top of it. I just removed it slowly when done transferring, seemed to catch most of the hop debris that I saw flowing through the tubing at the very end of the siphon.

 

[Sbarnard80]

Have yet yet to try it but made a ss braid like many use for their mash and fit it inside the spigot hole of my bottling bucket. It should catch anything larger like bits of hops.

But to answer your question, your beer should actually be pretty clear by the time you bottle. When you siphon into your bottling bucket, make sure not to disturb the bottom and stop the siphon when it starts picking up from the trub at the bottom. It's a tradeoff with getting all the beer at the bottom and also getting some of the trub - if you can't cold crash or add something like gelatin.

 

[BigFloyd]

You don't need to use a secondary or filter to get clear beer. If not done just right, either of those two things can increase the risk of oxidation. Practices that help lead to clear beer are:

Bag your hops or use a hop spider.

Whirlfloc at 10 min in the boil.

After chilling, cover the kettle and let things settle 15-20 min.

Leave as much kettle gunk behind as you can.

If you have the gear, a post-ferment cold crash of the primary into the mid-30's for 5-7 days does wonders.

Be careful moving the fermenter just prior to bottling to avoid disturbing the trub layer.

Don't put your siphon in the trub layer when racking.

 

[butterpants]

Floyds advice is most excellent. Add the gelatin finings as stated above and there's no real reason not to have brilliant beers.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Home Brew mobile app

 

[mauer_62]

Just checked on the carboy last night. There is a 1/4" of muck in the bottom. And it appears to be clearing up. I think it just needs time to sit