Looking For Tips And Suggestions On Filtering Beer

[passedpawn]

Some good advice above!

My 2¢:

Yeast cells are about 5µm. I've looked at loads of them under a scope. Some are smaller and larger. You'd want at least an absolute 2µm filter to get most of them. Bacteria will still get through.

I filter pilsners with a 5µm plate filter. With gelatin and cold crashing, I can get 10g through a pair of filters (there's two filters inside the plate). That's at 10psi. At that point, those filters are spent. If it's a beer that hasn't cleared substantially already, I might not get 5g through them. I'm very surprised that you got yours through that cartridge filter with only gravity.

If you intend on using 1µm filters, which is what I'd recommend for your needs, they will clog very quickly. You'll go through a bunch of them. Make sure your beer is very clear (sounds like they are). I think you'll need to push with gas.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Andrew - I was thinking about a two-stage set up with a 5 mic followed by a 1 mic to minimize the loading you talk about. The good thing here is that (nominal) sediment filters are not expensive, so you can afford to do a little experimenting to see what works best for you.

RUss

 

[passedpawn]

Andrew - I was thinking about a two-stage set up with a 5 mic followed by a 1 mic to minimize the loading you talk about. The good thing here is that (nominal) sediment filters are not expensive, so you can afford to do a little experimenting to see what works best for you.

RUss

Yes, I got that. That's an excellent idea Russ. I think that's the way to go.

BTW, I have a RO/DI TDS filtration system to make water for my reef tank. Pretty sweet. I use that water to make beer sometime. 1µm > carbon > DI > RO.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Yes, I got that. That's an excellent idea Russ. I think that's the way to go.

BTW, I have a RO/DI TDS filtration system to make water for my reef tank. 1µm > carbon > DI > RO.

Water flow should be:
sediment filter>carbon block>RO> and DI last.

 

[passedpawn]

Water flow should be:
sediment filter>carbon block>RO> and DI last.

That might be how I have it... it's outside. I'll take a look.

[edit] whew, yes, that's how I have it plumbed.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

If you didn't, you'd have known it. You would have been blowing through DI carts really fast.

 

[wobdee]

Some good advice above!

My 2¢:

Yeast cells are about 5µm. I've looked at loads of them under a scope. Some are smaller and larger. You'd want at least an absolute 2µm filter to get most of them. Bacteria will still get through.

I filter pilsners with a 5µm plate filter. With gelatin and cold crashing, I can get 10g through a pair of filters (there's two filters inside the plate). That's at 10psi. At that point, those filters are spent. If it's a beer that hasn't cleared substantially already, I might not get 5g through them. I'm very surprised that you got yours through that cartridge filter with only gravity.

If you intend on using 1µm filters, which is what I'd recommend for your needs, they will clog very quickly. You'll go through a bunch of them. Make sure your beer is very clear (sounds like they are). I think you'll need to push with gas.

Thanks for the info. I was a little surprised the filter worked by gravity as well. I actually had to slow it down some. I cold crash for a few days before filtering so yes the beer is pretty clear. Maybe filtering only 2.5 gal also has something to do with my success? I'd like to keep it simple as possible and use gravity and one filter, maybe even try a .5 micron, I think it may work but I'll see how the sediment looks in my 1 micron filtered keg first. The 5 micron only left a real thin skin of yeast so I don't think I'm too far off.

Next brew I'm going to change up my fermentation schedule a bit and instead of filtering after a 2 week fermentation then lagering, I'm going to ferment 2 weeks, lower slowly to lagering temps and hold for another 2 weeks (all in primary) then filter to keg, carb and condition for 2-3 weeks.

 

[passedpawn]

Thanks for the info. I was a little surprised the filter worked by gravity as well. I actually had to slow it down some. I cold crash for a few days before filtering so yes the beer is pretty clear. Maybe filtering only 2.5 gal also has something to do with my success? I'd like to keep it simple as possible and use gravity and one filter, maybe even try a .5 micron, I think it may work but I'll see how the sediment looks in my 1 micron filtered keg first. The 5 micron only left a real thin skin of yeast so I don't think I'm too far off.

Next brew I'm going to change up my fermentation schedule a bit and instead of filtering after a 2 week fermentation then lagering, I'm going to ferment 2 weeks, lower slowly to lagering temps and hold for another 2 weeks (all in primary) then filter to keg, carb and condition for 2-3 weeks.

Have you considered yeast immobilization? The yeast are contained in beads so you can more easily remove it when fermentation is finished. The beads allow the wort to pass through and fermentation to occur, but the yeast are entrapped (for the most part). Check out the link below.

The materials to do this are very easy to come by on Amazon (PM me and I'll send you links to what I bought). It doesn't completely stop free yeast in your beer, but I've got some ideas how to improve the process and further reduce the presence of yeast. Anyway, check it out. I don't think the process is too hard and it might save you a lot of money in filters

Yeast immobilization: magic beans of fermentation

 

[Scriv]

Have you noticed any change in flavor by filtering?

 

[wobdee]

Have you considered yeast immobilization? The yeast are contained in beads so you can more easily remove it when fermentation is finished. The beads allow the wort to pass through and fermentation to occur, but the yeast are entrapped (for the most part). Check out the link below.

The materials to do this are very easy to come by on Amazon (PM me and I'll send you links to what I bought). It doesn't completely stop free yeast in your beer, but I've got some ideas how to improve the process and further reduce the presence of yeast. Anyway, check it out. I don't think the process is too hard and it might save you a lot of money in filters

Yeast immobilization: magic beans of fermentation

Interesting stuff, thanks

 

[wobdee]

Have you noticed any change in flavor by filtering?

So far no, but I've only tapped into one of my 3 beers I've filtered and it was the 5 micron filter which let some yeast through. I've heard that filtering down below .5 micron can strip flavor but also heard that can be compensated by recipe formulation.

 

[Scriv]

So far no, but I've only tapped into one of my 3 beers I've filtered and it was the 5 micron filter which let some yeast through. I've heard that filtering down below .5 micron can strip flavor but also heard that can be compensated by recipe formulation.

Ok, I have a 1 micron filter I just haven't used yet as I've read it'll strip flavors. Guess I'll just have to try it and see! Thanks.

 

[passedpawn]

Ok, I have a 1 micron filter I just haven't used yet as I've read it'll strip flavors. Guess I'll just have to try it and see! Thanks.

If you suspect this, I'd run half through the filter, remove the filter, then push the second half through the exact same way. One variable changed, triangle test with some friends, good way to really know the effect.

 

[wobdee]

Update:
Just finished my first keg that was filtered with a GE Hydrex 1 micron filter. Beer was nice and clear, no sediment in first few pours but when I opened up the keg there was a thin skin of yeast sediment at the bottom. Not as bad as no filter but if I remember the previous keg that was filtered with a 5 micron had less sediment. I guess it's true that all nominal filters aren't alike. I have two more kegs with the same 1 micron filter then I'm trying a .5 Buckeye Hydro nominal filter.

 

[passedpawn]

Update:
Just finished my first keg that was filtered with a GE Hydrex 1 micron filter. Beer was nice and clear, no sediment in first few pours but when I opened up the keg there was a thin skin of yeast sediment at the bottom. Not as bad as no filter but if I remember the previous keg that was filtered with a 5 micron had less sediment. I guess it's true that all nominal filters aren't alike. I have two more kegs with the same 1 micron filter then I'm trying a .5 Buckeye Hydro nominal filter.

Please take a bunch of pictures of everything. When this is all done, and you've collected all the info, I'd like you to write an article on your experience here. Please think about it. I'll probably forget, but when you update this thread I'll remember. Thanks. Maybe we can have both you and @Buckeye_Hydro co-author it. He seems to have a lot of good info.

 

[Scriv]

Do you guys filter cold, or at fermentation temps? I'm thinking of racking my next brew to a keg, then pushing it through a filter into another keg, then chilling and carbing it.

 

[hunter_le five]

Do you guys filter cold, or at fermentation temps? I'm thinking of racking my next brew to a keg, then pushing it through a filter into another keg, then chilling and carbing it.

Cold crash it before you filter it. It'll make things go a lot smoother, in my experience.

 

[wobdee]

Yep, cold crash before filtering here as well.

 

[Scriv]

Thanks!