Do or die finings

[Paul_S]

I made a John Bull lager kit using the supplied yeast for my missus a few weeks ago & it's sitting in a barrel

I have run off a few 1 litre PET bottles so I can watch it clearing - there is a helluva lot of yeast accumulating in the bottom of the bottles and only the top few mm is what I'd call clear. The taste is unpleasantly yeasty. I'm not discounting the possibility that the yeast is contaminated although there are no obvious off-tastes or smells, just a lot of yeastiness.

I used Young's liquid finings when the stuff went into barrel and last week, with no sign of any clearing, I added a sachet of Isinglass. Now, I know about the issue of some finings combinations or over-use can actually stabilise yeast in suspension rather than clearing it so I'm hoping I haven't over-done it (used single sachets for 5 gals).

Can anyone reccommend a "do or die" finings before I consign this gloop to the great white telephone?

[steve_flack]

In my experience most shop bought Isinglass is rubbish - the only exception I've found is the fresh stuff sold by some stores (Hop and Grape for example). This is the stuff that breweries use and must be kept in the fridge.

Other than that you might as well use gelatine.

[Jim]

I find that the best solution to most clearing problems is time. If you only made the kit a few weeks ago, there could even still be some fermentation happening, and that will keep the yeast in suspension - give it a few more weeks (easy to say, isn't it? )

As Steve says, gelatine is a good solution if you don't want to mess on with fresh isinglass, but you need to give any finings time to work - don't be too impatient!

[Paul_S]

Cheers for that - I used to use gelatine many moons ago so if there is still no sign of clearing I'll give it a go. Thanks for the tip about H&G isinglass - that seems really good value.

I I'm not too far from brewpub in Nottingham (Fox & Crown) where the brewer was always helpful - if all else fails I might take my begging cup along!