Small Amounts of Black Patent for Clarity?

[wittmania]

I'm curious if anyone else has ever heard of this. The owner of my LHBS told me the other day that some breweries will use very small amounts (~1 oz/5 gal) of Black Patent to lighten and clear pale beers. He said some of the bigger breweries will even use it as such in their light lagers. Black patent in a light lager? Yeah, that's what he told me.

I know I've had recipes that used a few ounces to add some color, but never to actually clear up a beer. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

 

[wildwest450]

I know for a fact you can taste very small amounts of bp, so i'm calling bravo sierra. As far as clearing the beer, sounds like crap as well.


_

 

[JJL]

Not to mention, you can add a few ounces to the grain bill of a 5 gal batch of pale beer and turn it almost black. It's potent stuff.

 

[jbock220]

Yes, I heard this on a podcast from beersmith. I can't remember the guest, but it was someone that would know (Denny, Palmer, ?). They said finely crushed, 1oz/5gl.