For those that use gelatin in the carboy.

[Troutchaser]

I have used gelatin a few time but alway in the keg. If I want to do it in the fermenter on a IPA with a big dry hop do I even need to cold crash and what order should I do it? Dry hop cold crash then gelatin or do I gelatin then dry hop and cold crash? Too many options!! What do you do when you dry hop and use gelatin?

 

[j1n]

i wouldn't use gelatin on an IPA.

But if you really wanted to id cold crash first then add it and then wait a day or two.

 

[alane1]

It depends on what you want in the finished product. If you want brilliant clarity and don't mind sacrificing a little flavor and aroma, then cold crash after dry hop. If you want maximum aroma and don't mind a little haze cold crash, then dry hop.

 

[passedpawn]

I gelatin everything. I suggest anyone considering this, try it. Ideally, split a batch and try it.

I love the look of beer. Nothing better than that clarity, bubbles charging up towards the frothy head, beads of sweat glistening and creating that marbled effect on the outside. Yes, clarity is important to me.

 

[Queequeg]

I used gelatin for the first time recently, ultra clear beer but carbonation has taken seemingly forever in the bottle. No good for an IPA imo which I want to drink on week three.

 

[philipCT]

If you believe in beerxsperiments, I think the jury is out on whether you lose flavor or aroma by gelling, but there I go getting involved in the controversy rather than answering the OP's question...

My standard practice is to complete all fermentation, including dry hopping (which you want to do at a warm-ish, fermentation range temperature), then cold-crash for 24 hours, then gel, then cold crash for 2-3 more days, then package.

My beers are startlingly clear, and I haven't noticed any flavor or aroma loss.

Having said that, I'm at late stage 1 of dry hopping a Pliny clone at the moment and I am going to skip the gel because it's been a lot of work dry-hopping this batch and I don't want any shadow of doubt to loom over this brew.

 

[flars]

I gelatin everything. I suggest anyone considering this, try it. Ideally, split a batch and try it.

I love the look of beer. Nothing better than that clarity, bubbles charging up towards the frothy head, beads of sweat glistening and creating that marbled effect on the outside. Yes, clarity is important to me.

Very clearly written.

 

[Troutchaser]

Thanks for the replies. I do understand that there might be a slight loss in flavor/aroma on a IPA using gelatin. I read the exbeerment done on this matter and it seemed like the loss was very minimal and I really can't tell the difference when I use it or not and I like clear beer so I'm gonna use it! I was just not sure on the order to do it all.