How to make clear beer

[rcrabb22]

I cannot make a clear beer. But, I can tell when I have just 2 or 3 pints left in the keg as they come out crystal clear. It would seem what ever is in solution and has settled sits in the bottom of the keg and is drawn out pint after pint until finally gone?

I need some advice or suggestions.

 

[greeneyed]

Do you use Irish moss, Gelatin, or cold crash?

 

[ChshreCat]

Yeah, to me it sounds like it could be chill haze. That'll clear up if you keep the beer cold long enough. Seems like "long enough" is almost how long it takes for you to clear a keg.

 

[Synovia]

Yeah, to me it sounds like it could be chill haze. That'll clear up if you keep the beer cold long enough. Seems like "long enough" is almost how long it takes for you to clear a keg.

Exactly. You either need more taps, or somewhere to cold condition kegs before they go on tap.

 

[craven_morhead]

What sort of timeline are you looking at so far?

 

[SFBEER]

I just "discovered" cold crashing. My beer went from a hazy mess to clear enough to read a newspaper through.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Chill / cold crash and add a packet of knox gelatin disolved in a pint of 170 - 180 degree water. Wait a couple of days and keg...brilliant beer.

 

[rcrabb22]

Yeah, to me it sounds like it could be chill haze. That'll clear up if you keep the beer cold long enough. Seems like "long enough" is almost how long it takes for you to clear a keg.

I do use irish moss the last 15 min of the boil.

Maybe I didn't wait long enough for the beer to settle clear in the past but I have finally built up a supply since going to 10 gal batches. I have an Irish Ale that was kegged 11/07 and it is still not clear. It has been in the kegerator at 38F and on CO2 the entire time. I could give gelatin a try with that one and see what happens. Now that's it's carbonated, I probably shouldn't swirl it around after adding the gelatin mixture.

 

[ChshreCat]

Try it with your next batch. Gelatin and then cold crash.

 

[rcrabb22]

Try it with your next batch. Gelatin and then cold crash.

Gotcha! Thanks

 

[wilserbrewer]

Try it with your next batch. Gelatin and then cold crash.

Hate to be a nitpicker, but you might find that cold crashing, then adding the gelatin is preferred, as the gelatin works better at colder temps.

 

[greeneyed]

And all these should be done before you keg right?

 

[Edcculus]

And all these should be done before you keg right?

No, I rack from my room temp primary into a keg. I let it sit in the kegerator on gas for 2 days, then add gelatin. 2-5 days later I have very clear beer

 

[Yooper]

I switched over to Whirlfloc from Irish moss a couple of years ago. Now, ALL of my beers are crystal clear without any other finings. I've never used gelatin.

I think Whirlfloc works so much better than plain Irish moss- I'd highly recommend trying it and seeing what you think. The first time I used it, I had far more break material in my kettle, and my beers were beautifully clear from then on.

 

[rcrabb22]

I switched over to Whirlfloc from Irish moss a couple of years ago. Now, ALL of my beers are crystal clear without any other finings. I've never used gelatin.

I think Whirlfloc works so much better than plain Irish moss- I'd highly recommend trying it and seeing what you think. The first time I used it, I had far more break material in my kettle, and my beers were beautifully clear from then on.

I will. Thanks

 

[springer]

I switched to Whirlfloc put I still do the gelatin can't hurt anything


here is the cold break with Whirlfloc

and by the time I had the other BB filled it was settling..

and the beer

 

[IrregularPulse]

I switched over to Whirlfloc from Irish moss a couple of years ago. Now, ALL of my beers are crystal clear without any other finings. I've never used gelatin.

I think Whirlfloc works so much better than plain Irish moss- I'd highly recommend trying it and seeing what you think. The first time I used it, I had far more break material in my kettle, and my beers were beautifully clear from then on.

I've used this on my last two batches. One is still in the fermenter. When do you add your tablets?

 

[Edcculus]

I've used this on my last two batches. One is still in the fermenter. When do you add your tablets?

Last 10 min of the boil. 1/2 tablet will work fine in a 5 gallon batch.

 

[springer]

10 minutes left in the boil. 1 tablet 10 gallon brews

 

[IrregularPulse]

I think I did 15 minutes left in boil based off package instruction but may have done at the beginning of the boil for my last one not thinking. What would that do?

 

[springer]

I think I did 15 minutes left in boil based off package instruction but may have done at the beginning of the boil for my last one not thinking. What would that do?

don't know at worst it broke the Whirlfloc down .. but you can always crash it then add gelatin I do this on most of the beers anyway little anal about things sometimes

 

[boredatwork]

don't know at worst it broke the Whirlfloc down .. but you can always crash it then add gelatin I do this on most of the beers anyway little anal about things sometimes

This is what I do now and I seem to have had the most success with the three headed approach of Whirlfloc, cold condition, and gelatin.

 

[rcrabb22]

I cannot make a clear beer. But, I can tell when I have just 2 or 3 pints left in the keg as they come out crystal clear. It would seem what ever is in solution and has settled sits in the bottom of the keg and is drawn out pint after pint until finally gone?

I need some advice or suggestions.

THANK YOU to all who helped me! I added gelatin per the instructions you gave me to the 2nd keg of an ordinary bitter ( the 1st was cloudy), and the 1st keg of an American amber and they are so, so clear I can't believe it.

I also have whirlfloc to try for my brew this weekend.

Wooooo Hoooo!

 

[Blackhawkbrew]

Is the Whirlfloc and gelatin for kegging or does it work equally well when bottling? The same question for cold crashing.

 

[greeneyed]

yes, yes/ no

 

[Blackhawkbrew]

Is that "yes/no" for the cold crashing?

 

[greeneyed]

Whirfloc=yes
Gelatin=yes
C/c=no

 

[mitch171]

Well doesn't cold crash happen when you put the bottle in the fridge, just on a smaller scale and doesn't take as long because the sediment has less of a distance to fall?

 

[springer]

Is the Whirlfloc and gelatin for kegging or does it work equally well when bottling? The same question for cold crashing.

All three will give you clearer beers don't matter if you bottle or keg. Gelatin works best on cold beer so cold crash for a day or two then add your gelatin let it sit a couple of more days then bottle.There will be plenty of yeast left to carb.

Why would you say no to Cold crashing greeneyed?

 

[greeneyed]

I guess I was misinformed by my LHBS, he told me not to crash on bottling as there may not be enough yeast left in suspension to properly carb.