Whirlfloc Tablets

[John Burns]

So I'm going to try to get clarity in my beer by using whirlfloc tablets however, I've been hearing mixed opinions when to add the whirlfloc tablet during boiling. The bottle says 1 tablet fro 5 gallons at the last 15 minutes of boil however, I've heard others say to add the tablet the last 5 minutes and to just add half the tablet. Any opinions or suggestions? Also will it do anything bad to the beer if I put too much or add to the boil too long? Just curious. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[ong]

Half a tablet is sufficient for five gallons, or you can just add the whole one. Anytime between 5-15 minutes is supposed to be fine. It’s a pretty forgiving agent. Basically it’s just a seaweed extract that clumps together with bits of sediment. Don’t worry about it!

 

[azdavid]

↑↑↑ This ↑↑↑

I use a whole tablet anywhere between 15 -5 minutes left in the boil and have never seen any detrimental effects.

 

[Rob2010SS]

If you're going for clear beer, you should focus more on fining after fermentation.

I don't use whirlfloc ever. I use gelatin with a cold crash after fermentation is complete. Usually the beer comes out clear enough to read through it

 

[hottpeper13]

That's funny Rob, I am just the opposite. I do everything I can to make clear wort so I don't have to gelatin,just cold crash and keg for clear beer.

 

[Rob2010SS]

That's funny Rob, I am just the opposite. I do everything I can to make clear wort so I don't have to gelatin,just cold crash and keg for clear beer.

Haha, to each their own. There are for sure multiple ways to "skin a cat" so I shouldn't have said that the OP "SHOULD" do something. My mistake.

For me, I always just dump most everything into the fermenter and do a cold crash with gelatin and the beer usually turns out pretty clear. I've never used whirlfloc and tried to get only clear wort to the fermenter. I've always felt since I can't do a good whirlpool to get all of the trub into a nice little pile, that it wouldn't work. Whether there's any truth to that, I don't know.

 

[jimmyjusa]

I wonder if even when dumping the whole thing into the fermenter if whirlfloc would help to clear even more and make more of a solid trub.

To the OP, i have read that after 15 minutes of boiling the tablets become ineffective and apparently the wort acts as if it was never used. I'm not sure how true this is.

 

[balrog]

I too have read about whirlfloc>15m is not a good idea. I have used Whirlfloc, 1 tablet for 5G batch, for years. I dump entire kettle into fermenter. Clear beer for me depends on yeast and style; some are clear fast, some (WY1450) take a little longer (couple weeks), some (wheat) are always cloudy.

 

[ong]

I too have read about whirlfloc>15m is not a good idea. I have used Whirlfloc, 1 tablet for 5G batch, for years. I dump entire kettle into fermenter. Clear beer for me depends on yeast and style; some are clear fast, some (WY1450) take a little longer (couple weeks), some (wheat) are always cloudy.

I often do this (unless there’s an inch of hop sediment in the kettle). I do find that Whirlfloc helps clear the finished beer, although it’s not a massive change. I don’t use gelatin (I’m a vegetarian), but I have used sparkelloid and WOW, does that make a difference.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

10 minutes before the end of the boil works just fine. 1 tablet per 5 gallons. It's not perfect on every grain bill but it definitely helps to bind schmutz and proteins.

If you like gelatin, go for it. Cold crash at least overnight first. Gelatin isn't perfect either, nor does it work as well on every brew, but for many, its the bees knees.

If you like filtering, do that. Not molson-coors perfect either, but a 98% 1 micron filter makes for some damn clear beer and will mucho impress friends that are afraid of homebrew haze.

Pick your poison or dont use any of them. Wont make one iota of difference whether your beer is tasty or not.

 

[JimRausch]

Hmmm. My directions for whirlfloc say 1/4 tab per 5G. Oh well, maybe doseage is flexible.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

maybe doseage is flexible

Very. It's been argued for years. No matter how much someone uses, they say it works. I'm just too lazy to break tablets I guess.