Gelatin methods?

[odie]

Never thought about gelatin on finings until I had a porter that never cleared and had this nasty “silty” texture on the palate...

Seems to be lots of different ways people use the stuff... but are the results the same?

1. stirring into post boil while still warm? What would that do? I assume you would just sprinkle in the powder and stir? Does that remove stuff needed for the next step?

2. Into fermenter before fermentation? Dry and stir it or hydrate first?

3. In fermenter after fermentation? Dry or not? Does it matter?

4. In the keg? Wet or dry and shake? Cold crash first or warm?

Does doing it too early remove stuff needed or used during the fermentation process? Or remove stuff before it can contribute whatever it does to the beer?

 

[NGD]

Never heard of anyone using gelatin post boil or before fermentation. I typically do it post fermentation and after cold crashing, but before packaging (bottle or keg). After a few days it allows me to rack crystal clear beer off a compact trub.

AFAIK adding it to a keg and waiting a few days would be just fine. Several on here use it in the keg. Just have to pour a glass or two out prior to serving.

Edit: Just realized I didn’t answer your question directly. Quite frankly I’m not sure why its not used post boil. Here articles which are good reads in terms of how to fine with gelatin. The Brulosophy article goes over fining with gelatin warm vs cold.
http://www.bertusbrewery.com/2012/06/how-to-clear-your-beer-with-gelatin.html

http://brulosophy.com/2015/01/05/the-gelatin-effect-exbeeriment-results/

 

[odie]

Read all the brulosphy stuff but many here don’t like their methods.

At the end does seem most logical ...i would probably lean towards in the final keg and sacrifice the first pint

 

[ehk089]

Yeah it’s like 1 tsp gelatin to 3/4 cup of water, put in microwave in 5-10 second bursts til it hits over 155, then toss in bottom of keg and rack COLD beer on top. Leave in cold storage2-3 days and pour off first couple pints.

 

[wepeeler]

I think I'm the only person on the planet that has bad luck with gelatin. I see people online and in my homebrew club with great results. I've done gelatin into the keg after kegging. I've racked beer into the keg that already has gelatin. Neither produced crystal clear beer. I've even tried biofine and didn't have good luck. I give up...

 

[ehk089]

Did you have beer cold? Doesn’t work if beer is room temp.

 

[wepeeler]

Did you have beer cold? Doesn’t work if beer is room temp.

Yup. It's sitting at serving temp in my keezer. Beer pours ice cold. Digital thermometer and inkbird both read 36. I've had beer freeze when I tried setting it lower.

 

[odie]

does gelatin have to be added at cold temps or does it only work at cold temps? I would think it would bind with whatever particulate is floating around, regardless of temps

 

[EnglishAndy]

does gelatin have to be added at cold temps or does it only work at cold temps? I would think it would bind with whatever particulate is floating around, regardless of temps

It'll work at room temperature but is likely to be slower. I use a two-part kieselsol/gelatin fining in the keg. One part goes in first, I transfer room-temperature beer on top of it then add the second part as I come towards the end of the fill. The end result after a couple of weeks carbing at the correct temperature for the style is beer that's so clear it's like a bought one. Look in the wine section of your LHBS for two-part finings. I swear by them.

I only once had a beer treated this way that never cleared and it was the yeast - Wyeast 1318 - at fault. I know it was the yeast because the overbuilt starter I kept in the fridge also never cleared when every other yeast always does. Weird. It was a fresh pack too.

 

[Konadog]

I've always use it just before or just after cold crashing. Besides clearing the beer, it helps lock down all the trub so when you transfer, you are less likely to disturb the yeast cake and re-introduce yeast into your beer.

 

[Shwagger]

I first collect the yeast cake in the bottom port and save it in a mason jar. Then add the gelatin/water mix and let it fall out of suspension for a few days. Collect it at the bottom port and discard. Then into a keg.

But if you dont have a collection port at the base of your fermenter, it's not as easy as I described