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Quick question about gelatin finings

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brad26

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I am going to transfer my pumpkin ale to a secondary in about a week (have a lot of particles floating around) and I was going to add gelatin finings. I was just wondering if I add the finings to the secondary first and then rack on top of it, or do I add it after I rack the beer to the secondary. Thanks!
 
ill be keeping an eye on this as i will have to do the same thing since i have pumpkin seed particles floating everywhere
 
I used yams (couldn't find any pumpkin) but I've got a lot of it floating around. Hoping if I use some gelatin it will settle.
 
From what I have read on the subject you should rack to a secondary and cold crash if possible prior to adding the gelatin. Add the gelatin to water at 170 F or lower and mix well prior to adding to the secondary. You may want to let the water slurry to cool first. If you cannot cold crash the use of the gelatin may just take longer to work. I will be trying this my first time here in a few days. There are many different methods to do than the one I described. I am just going to try this because I have seen it recommended by several other people.
 
I'm by no means an expert on the use of finings -or- cold crashing, but I've definitely tried it a few times. I've had equal success with 2 ways, both after leaving the beer in a secondary for at least a week beforehand.

Way 1:
Cold crash for 24+ hours to drop most of the bigger stuff out. Let it warm back to room temperature, then add gelatin. Leave for 5 days and then bottle. I've been told that you can add the gelatin while the beer is cold too so that you'll clear more of the chill haze, but I was too worried about the gelatin actually gelling and just sinking to the bottom

Way 2:
Don't cold crash, but let it sit for at least a week to settle anything bigger out. Add gelatin 5 days before when you want to bottle, then bottle as normal. It also helps to put your secondary wherever you'll be siphoning from right when you're adding the gelatin so that you're not moving it after the gelatin's settled.

If it helps, this is how I prepare the gelatin and it's worked beautifully every time:

http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64190

Good luck!

- Budista
 
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