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glepley

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Question. I always use Wirlflock since I started brewing. Last batch I made 10 gallons 2 batches 5 a piece. Well the first batch I forgot the whirlflock. I have attached a pic. The difference is drastic. Question is does it really make that much of a difference. The grain bill is the same for both. Only difference is the hops but only 1 oz was different.
IMG_1529505417.126681.jpg
 
Question. I always use Wirlflock since I started brewing. Last batch I made 10 gallons 2 batches 5 a piece. Well the first batch I forgot the whirlflock. I have attached a pic. The difference is drastic. Question is does it really make that much of a difference. The grain bill is the same for both. Only difference is the hops but only 1 oz was different. View attachment 575951

Whirlflock good in beer. Not so good in peanut butter.
 
As you know from your picture, it has a significant effect on clarity. However, the effect it has on flavor probably depends on the style and how much suspended proteins affect the taste perception. If you’re brewing to submit to competitions, clarity is expected in some styles, at least visually. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of preference usually. Most people like seeing a brilliantly clear beer rather than a murky, cloudy one.

The brulosophy exbeeriment on the topic yielded a non-significant result in terms of the ability of tasters to detect a flavor difference reliably in an English Bitter.
http://brulosophy.com/2017/03/27/the-whirlfloc-effect-exbeeriment-results/
 
Whether or not you use Whirlfloc depends on your personal tastes and the style you're brewing. My beers tend to use around 10% malted white wheat for extra foam (I like foam), so a slight murky haze with unflocced wheat beer is expected.
My tastes also run toward low SRM dry beers and using a Whirlfloc definitely helps with clarity.
Advice ... Get a good "hot break", proper calcium additions in your water, and use Whirlfloc in your boil to improve the clarity in your home brews. With the right hopping levels of 20 IBU or more, you will get not only a nice foam with better clarity, but a slightly longer shelf life for your beer.
 

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