Roots in Beer

[pilgrim1981]

Ok. I'm pretty new at this and i have a slight issue. I have some sarsaparilla in my primary. i really don't want it in the bottles and I know that just running it through a mesh filter of some sort wouldn't be good. Any suggestions on what i should do? I am not sure that the siphoning is going to really get it out. Is it going to totally destroy the flavor if i slowly pour into a bottling bucket with a fine mesh filter?

 

[Shaneoco1981]

Pouring will ruin the flavor because there is no way to pour it without oxygenating your beer. You will end up with a big batch of liquid cardboard.

 

[unionrdr]

The last time I bought that stuff,the root was like thin,small chips that you boiled to make tea with'em. So I think you should be ok with a fine mesh strainer.

 

[pilgrim1981]

What do you think about trying to just fish most of it out using a mesh filter like a net? i wish there was a cheap way to filter into the secondary without oxidizing the batch.

 

[onipar]

What if you do your regular siphon method, but hold the end of the siphon hose over the strainer. That eliminates pouring it, and while the slow stream of beer coming out of the hose and going through the strainer *may* oxygenate it a little bit, it can't be as bad as pouring it.

I dunno...hopefully a brewer with more experience has a better option.

 

[beerkrump]

Get a sack like the ones used in the Brew in a Bag (BIAB) method and use it as a liner for your bottling bucket. Siphon and and bottle as usual. Works with kegs, too. Just pull it out after you're done transferring.

 

[unionrdr]

Good one beerkrump. I gotta learn not to think of technical stuff after bill collectors rattling my monkey cage...Hop sack over end of siphon. Try that.

 

[pilgrim1981]

Thanks. This gives me something to work with. I was thinking maybe a hop bag over the racking cane but now maybe a bag right into the bottling bucket would work great and let the flavors sit in there just a little longer as i am going to let it sit in the secondary for awhile.

 

[bryanjints]

You need to filter it from within the primary. Anything that separates the beer as it goes into your bottling bucket creates more surface area and aggitates the beer will add O2.

I have a keg right now that I ended up having a few pieces of blackberry in it. I added a length of stainless steel mesh to the end of the pickup tube in the keg. This allows me to serve the beer while keeping the berries out.

Something like this would work for your beer. Find something to put on the end of your racking tube that will keep out the roots but not clog stopping the flow. I attached the stainless with a hose clamp. Not sure what will work for you since I don't know how big the pieces of root actually are.

 

[bryanjints]

......or what is posted above will work better. I opened this thread and left it open while the other replies were posted.