Finings etc

[johnmac]

Finings, Types of and How to Use...
http://www.murphyandson.co.uk/BrewingAr ... #auxiliary

[Vossy1]

Just read the link above and would like to ask:-

Which fining do you use, when do you use it, and why?

I've just used brucleer for a couple of kits. They're still in the secondary fv so I can't comment yet.

Has anyone else used brucleer?

[eskimobob]

I don't usually use Finings but following my day at the brewery the other day I think I might start.

We carried out a "drop test" to determine the correct amount of fining to add to each cask and I was amazed by the results. We first drew two very cloudy pints straight from the fermenter having already added an amount of fining adjunct to the fermenter.

When we went back to check them about an hour after adding proper fish based fining to the two pints they were almost completely transparent having dropped bright. There was about 5mm of fining and yeast in the bottom of each pint glass and a few bits of fining floating around. The clarity pretty much blew me away.

Apparently the supplier reccomends a maximum fining shelf life of around 6 weeks if the finings are stored cool - much less if they are stored badly. Based on this, H&G are likely to supply much better stuff than that you see hanging around on brew shop shelves.

[guildofevil]

Does anyone know what finings are suitable for vegetarians?

I'm not a veggie myself, but I do have friends who are, so I don't want to use Isinglass or Gelatine.

[Vossy1]

After struggling with a beer that wouldn't clear, I got some issinglass and aux finings as recommended by DaaB.

I've got to say that they were, in conjunction with each other, the best finings I've used yet. The ale was CRYSTAL clear

I was suprised at the size of the clumped particles, they were literally a couple of MM's across

This stuff really rock's

[guildofevil]

Condessa Ultra Clear 2 part Finings (LINK)

Thanks.

[mysterio]

I just tried out the Condessa stuff the other day on a brew I have sitting in the secondary. It was very quick and the beer was bright in a couple of days. Only problem is it's about £4 for only two doses. The active ingredient is silicic acid - I wonder if this works on chill haze. Any chemists know if this is +ve or -ve charged?

[TheBigEasy]

Does anyone know what finings are suitable for vegetarians?

That's my problem. Being vegetarian makes it difficult, therefore I do not bother. I would rather drink cloudy beer than pay 4 quid a shot.

[eskimobob]

What are your thoughts on fining in a cornie?

I have been transferring to secondary and then waiting for the beer to fall bright naturally before racking to cornie but I now have some finings and am tempted to rack from primary to cornie and include the finings. The idea being to leave it a couple of days and then draw off the finings through the tap. My only worry is getting a blockage.

[eskimobob]

I've done it before EB, it works well, it's just a bit upsetting chucking away that first pint

Excellent. Well I racked it last night so will see in a few days. It was pretty bright actually so I probably could have left out the finings but new toys and all that

[eskimobob]

A bit early I know but I have just drawn off about 1/4 pint of cloudy stuff and thought that it smelt a bit funny so I threw that away and drew off another 1/4 or so pint which was much clearer but still smell a bit. Took a taste and I think it's off - Bugger

Now I stupidly didn't have a taste before racking to cornie and adding the finings so I don't know whether it was off before the finings or whether they have spoiled it - Bugger Bugger Bugger

[Garth]

just a question, first time using any kind of finings, used H&G's chilled IG on a Brupaks kit recently when bottling, the beer has cleared really quickly, much quicker than any other kit I have done, but when pouring it dosen't stick to the bottom very well, I have better results when using S-04 yeast and no finings, does it need a bit longer in the bottle to 'gel' together or what?

[eskimobob]

Hmmm
I've not tried fining in the bottle. I thought the idea was to fine in a secondary then bottle. I was trying to fine in the cornie to save time and effort and risk since I knew I coule draw off the finings in the first pint.

[Garth]

but surely if you fined in the secondary there would be no yeast left in suspension when you bottled to create any CO2/fizz and your beer would be flat?

[eskimobob]

but surely if you fined in the secondary there would be no yeast left in suspension when you bottled to create any CO2/fizz and your beer would be flat?

Good point.
I have not bottled since my first couple of brews since I find the hassle of sanitising all those bottles too much to contemplate so feel free to ignore me.

I seem to remember people suggesting adding a teaspoon of yeast to each bottle for exactly that purpose. You'd want to ensure it was a high floculating yeast so that it clumped and settled at the bottom of the bottle though. I also seem to remember that some bottled beers include yeast specifically for conditioning - i.e. they add different yeast for bottle conditioning to that used for primary fermentation.

Am I still making sense...