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OK, I screwed up...

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homebrewer_99

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...now do not repeat this...

I have a Helles (a light colored German style brew) and an American Ale lagering in the carboy in the cold garage for a couple of weeks now but it's still cloudy. So I decide to add some gelatin finings.

And I know the best time to use this is just prior to bottling, but I just had to do it.

Well, I came home after work and I checked the carboys. One has about 3 inches of gelatin cake on the bottom and the other one has some huge chunks of gelatin floating around like it was Oprah's fat on her weight loss show.

What I forgot is that gelatin gels at cold temps...and I'm a college graduate...DOUBLE DOH!!!:eek:
 
Beer Jell-o. Like a college revolution. Way back when I was in college, we only had passe' things like marijuana brownies. Now, you've invented something that could change the entire college social structure! Um, probably not.

Bring it inside, let it warm up. maybe it'll be ok. The beer with the heavy gelatin trub will be ok out in the garage, but I'd rescue "Oprah's Ale" if I could.

Lorena
 
Yes, I know I could have just kept my mouth shut and no one would be the wiser ('cept maybe me!), but I'd rather squeal on myself if I can pass along some brewing knowledge/lessons learned.

I checked the brews this morning and the are much clearer than before. I think I will rack them to a tertiary carboy so I can get them off the jello and re-do the gelatin prior to bottling as the instructions state. :D
 
I've heard that you want your beer to be cold when using gelatin so it can grab onto the proteins that cause chill haze. I will have to double check where I heard that so I know for sure.
 
Well, it sure was cold enough, about 44F, when I did it, but the instructions say to use it just prior to bottling. In that state the brew would be room temp.

Most of it's dropped out in one carboy. The other has jello floating at the top and some sitting on the bottom.
 
Do you use just regular gelatin you get at the grocery store or is there a special brewers gelatin?
 
For anyone interested...

Beer Jello Shots

6 ounces Strawberry Jello
16 ounces Water (boiling)
16 ounces Malt Liquor
Mix the jello mix with two cups (16 ounces) of boiling water until the powder is fully dissolved and add the malt liquor. The cold water called for by the recipe on the box is replaced by the malt liquor. Pour the mixture into either shot glasses or paper cups. Shot glasses are more attractive, but the paper cups are easier to eat from.

http://www.drinkstreet.com/searchresults.cgi?drinkid=918&drinkname=jello shots

That's about as disgusting a drink as I can possibly imagine.
 
I love that website's slogan...

logo.gif
 
And you can just use regular un-flavored gelatin from the grocery store like I do.

I cool the wort down to 34f and mix into it and leave it for a week before kegging or bottling.
 

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