Head retention suffers when using Whirlfloc?

harrv · Jan 21, 2011

In your experience, does head retention suffer when using Whirlfloc or other refining agents? What about body, mouthfeel, and taste?

I've read a lot about Whirlfloc, and it seems clear (ha) that it helps reduce or even eliminates cloudiness. But I was listening to the June 10, 2010 edition of Basic Brewing Radio podcast and a few people who did a double-batch experiment (one with whirlfloc and one without) said that the one with whirlfloc didn't have very good head retention when compared to the one without. One guy also described the whirlfloc beer as thin, watery, and tasteless.

I have some on order and now I'm hesitant to use it. What has been your experience with it? Should I worry about head retention, body, taste and mouthfeel of the finished product, or should I just RDWHAHB?

I also have a similar question about Fermcap-S/Five Star Defoamer 105. Are there any tradeoffs with those I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Ricand · Jan 21, 2011

I've used Whirlfloc in most of my beers and have never had a head retention issue. Last beer I forgot the Carapils and it still has an awesome thick head.

I won't use the Fermcap since I believe that stuff should be in ****s not beer. Just a personal thought, with no facts or experiences (with beer

)to back it up.

wildwest450 · Jan 21, 2011

Nonsense.

_

weirdboy · Jan 21, 2011

I don't lend a lot of credence to many the "experiments" I've seen done by Basic Brewing listeners.

I've done batches of the same beers with whirlfloc and without and didn't notice a significant difference in any of those areas. In fact, I didn't really notice a huge difference in clarity, either, but that's another story.

I use fermcap-s for all my starters, and for a long time I used it on every single batch I made because my BK was only 7 gallons and I'd fill it to the very rim with wort. During that time I've made a few gold medal winning beers so I don't really believe that, if used correctly, it has a significant detrimental effect on flavor, mouthfeel, or head retention.

Toecutter · Jan 21, 2011

havent had any problems adding just irish moss I order by the pound. I always throw in a LB of wheat malt to every recipe to help with head retention, but thats just me.

harrv · Jan 21, 2011

Great! Good to hear. Thanks everyone.

I probably should have posted this in the beginning/noob forum. I'm in that category. If a moderator reads this, please feel free to move it for me.