What to expect - stopped using Irish Moss and Gelatin

[Calder]

With the exception of Sours I use Irish Moss in the boil and Gelatin after fermentation on almost every batch. Occasionally I forget one of them and so far have not noticed it in the finished beer.

As of my last brew I have stopped using both of these. How much difference should I expect to see with my beer?

My daughter (20) is alergic to seaweed, and a vegetarian. I want her to be able to try my beer if she should want to, so thought I'd quit using these and see what happens.

 

[Devilsnight]

I didn't notice any difference when I used either. So I don't bother anymore. Leave in the fermenter for 3-4 weeks and cold crashing does a good enough job for me.

 

[traddaddy]

I stopped using both and just cold crashed. Seems to work just as well.

 

[Calder]

I don't have the ability to cold crash.

 

[Calichusetts]

I don't have the ability to cold crash.

Are you sure about that? Some of my best result have been to simply lean frozen ice packs against the carboy like some polar stonehenge. I called it "cool crashing" and it worked great.

Otherwise. swamp cooler with water and frozen ice bottles can help. But honestly, just leave the bottles in the fridge for a week or do a protein rest. I thrown in irish moss out of habit, who knows what will happen when its empty. I used to be very concerned with the clarity, now I just care about the quality of the beer.

 

[Yooper]

I never have used gelatin, or other finings, and I don't cold crash.

I do still use whirlfloc in the boil kettle, but often I forget so I'd say it's about half the time that it gets used.

My beers are generally crystal clear. If you get a good hot break, a great cold break, and have clear wort going into the fermenter, the beer will be clear in the end.

My pale ales are crystal clear by day 21 when I'm drinking them.

 

[tagz]

It depends on your normal timeline. If your one of those that waits 4 weeks before drinking, your beer should be fairly clear. I tend to go to glass quicker, 10-14 days. If you do the same, you might have some pretty cloudy beers. But, like yooper noted, your hot/cold break and your yeast selection will play a role. You might try 1968/002 for the batches you make for her. That stuff drops very bright. If you use something like Conan, it will look like mud.