Whirfloc driving me crazy

[Stanna]

Hi all, I could do with some advice every time I use whirfloc tablets it blocks my hop filter to a slow drip when emptying into the fermenting vessel, the only way I can get it to empty is to run my plastic paddle up and down the hop filter while it is emptying but with the trouble with that is all the fluffy mass that the whirfloc produces in the bottom of my boiler gets broke up and goes into the fermenter is this ok or am I missing some technic to stop this happening

[Normski]

How much Whirlfloc in how much wort ?

[Stanna]

I've been using whole grain mash kits at the moment till I take my stabilizes off, there 23 ltr each and I've been doing two at a time so 2 whirfloc in 46 litres of beer, the whirfloc tablets come in the kits, but what I'm really getting at is will the whirfloc cause my beer to taste crap because it got in my fermenter ?.

[lord.president]

The last Whirlfloc I used,I'm sure said to use 1/4 - 1/2 tablet for 23 litres.

[gnorwebthgimi]

I normally drop one tablet for a 5 gallon / 23 litres batch.

I have experimented with less to see if there is any noticeable change in taste and there wasn't, so I stuck with one tablet. However, one tablet is enough to for about 100 litres.

[joe1002]

I'm not convinced the whirfloc is your problem. Can you describe your hop filter? Pictures? Are you using leaf or pellet hope? Are you using them loose?

[Normski]

You are using too much Whirlfloc.
As has been said. Try using 1/4 to 1/2 tab per 23l.
1/4 works well for me.

[Stanna]

My hops are put in a bag so my boiling wert is very clear, my hop filter is a six inch long copper pipe with hundreds of 2mm holes in it, I can see the whirlfloc clouds moving in on the filter and blocking it. If it is ok to have the whirfloc residue in my fermenter then I can take my hop filter out as I syphon from above after cold crashing and can leave the whirfloc residue behind, can't seem to find a answer about if it's ok to have whirfloc in fermenter ?

[Stanna]

You are using too much Whirlfloc.
As has been said. Try using 1/4 to 1/2 tab per 23l.
1/4 works well for me.

Ok less next time, cheers

[ciderhead]

You are using double whirlfloc required and getting what looks like "brain clumps" as one of my HB pals described it recently, try 1 tablet max for 46L

[gnorwebthgimi]

Carry on using the whirlfloc, it helps the beer clear, Whirlfloc is not your problem, it sounds like the filter is...

I have poured everything from the boiler into the fermenter the past with only 1 issue: the hot break forms additional trub that takes up space in the FV when it settles to the bottom, which can also mean It can also be difficult to bottle without disturbing the additional trub, but no off flavours noted.

Personally I like the control of siphoning from the boiler to the fermenter and don't use the tap. As it gives me greater control over the hot break I pick up (your issue). I can control the stream of wort as it enters the FV.

0.02

[charliemartin]

Can I ask why you are using a hop filter and hop bags? If you use leaf hops they form a bed on top of the hop filter which stops most of the trub going into the FV.
The whirlfloc clouds I think is the cold break not actual whirlfloc itself.

[Stanna]

Did a brew yesterday using one whirfloc in 42 liters of wert and it worked without blocking my filter, I was obviously using to much.

[Clibit]

Reducing the whirfloc has reduced the break material obviously. Be interesting to see how that affects the beer, if at all.

[vacant]

Is a Whirlfloc tablet identical in composition and concentration to a Protafloc tablet?

1/4 Protafloc tablet is sufficient dosage for 23 litres (see page 14). Ten Protafloc tablets for £1.33 including Jim's discount from Worcester Hop Shop.