Finings - do you use them and which one

[Ale]

BBC have done a story about the use of isinglass and the fact a lot of people dont know beer might not be vegetarian.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37350233

Personally I've only used finings once for a beer that was particularly cloudy, but it turned out that one was infected and I had to throw it. Other than that it is just time to let it clear and if I have space in the fridge a cold crash.

Does anyone here use finings regularly, do you particularly recommend them or any other comments about finings.

 

[Bigjas]

I only use Irish Moss in the boil and cold crash after fermentation. I regularly get clear beers without the need for any other finings.

 

[chuffer]

I've used Protofloc for the last two brews I've done.....I think they've helped?.....maybe?

 

[DoctorMick]

I only use protofloc in the boil, don't bother with anything else.

 

[BeerCat]

Do any beer brewers ever use bentonite? Works well in wine.

 

[geetee]

I have always used kettle finings, used to be irish moss but now carageenan (seeweed) to get rid of protein haze. I did use auxillary finings for a short while but find that chilling to zero works just the same.
Just made a brown ale and there was a lot of slurry in the FV after fermenting/transferring and chilling for 6 days. Bottled last week, carbonated for 4 days and chilled at about -1°C for 5 days and is now clear as a bell with no finings other than in the kettle.

Small micros use kettle, auxillary finings AND isinglass in casks to get it ready for the pub to serve quickly and they do not always have the ability to chill large volumes to as a low as 0-2°C.

 

[BeerCat]

I have always used kettle finings, used to be irish moss but now carageenan (seeweed) to get rid of protein haze. I did use auxillary finings for a short while but find that chilling to zero works just the same.
Just made a brown ale and there was a lot of slurry in the FV after fermenting/transferring and chilling for 6 days. Bottled last week, carbonated for 4 days and chilled at about -1°C for 5 days and is now clear as a bell with no finings other than in the kettle.

Small micros use kettle, auxillary finings AND isinglass in casks to get it ready for the pub to serve quickly and they do not always have the ability to chill large volumes to as a low as 0-2°C.

Interesting. I wish i had a few fridges.

 

[nigelnorris]

Do any beer brewers ever use bentonite? Works well in wine.

Not often but I have used it and it worked well. Beer would most likely have been clear anyway but there was less sediment.

 

[Fil]

imho unless your brewing and dispensing from casks that get moved about a lot before sitting in their serving spot, And tend to want to sup the beer green/earlier due perhaps to heavy aroma hop bills auxiliary or cold side finnings are of little benefit, the mixing in just undoes any settling of sediment upto that point, extending the period prior to bottling/cask/kegging.

And the best solution for a less than crystal clear pint is an opaque quaffing vessel what u dont see wont bother you.. (so much..)

 

[Covrich]

I just use Whirlfloc at the minute.. used irish moss in the past.. anyone got any opinions on whirlfloc protofloc.. anyone give a floc?

 

[BeerCat]

I just use Whirlfloc at the minute.. used irish moss in the past.. anyone got any opinions on whirlfloc protofloc.. anyone give a floc?

Flock it i don't really know but my guess its its just processed into a tablet. Stuff tastes salty.

 

[geetee]

Flock it i don't really know but my guess its its just processed into a tablet. Stuff tastes salty.

I think they are much of a muchness. the protofloc is similar to carageenan or Compaq CG, all seaweed derviatives and probably similar to your mossy type Irish moss! They all impart a charge to help precpitate proteins but do not affect yeast.

If you are not using isinglass then the yeast will naturally settle ( or not!) in time but chilling speeds up the process.

 

[Slid]

I find the protofloc tablet at 15mins to go on the boil is quite effective.

Isinglass, I have used in the very distant past, but a HB'er has the advantage of time over a commercial operation and I'm not convinced that finings other than the AG boil additives will be helpful. Just one more thing to cock-up on for mine.

And I can cock-it-up sufficiently as is, thanks very much :lol:

 

[Hoppyland]

The only finings I ever use is Protafloc in the boil. Otherwise, I just let things settle naturally & it works well for me. My general experience is that the slower the beer matures then the better it turns out.

 

[adajam4]

I find the protofloc tablet at 15mins to go on the boil is quite effective.

Isinglass, I have used in the very distant past, but a HB'er has the advantage of time over a commercial operation and I'm not convinced that finings other than the AG boil additives will be helpful. Just one more thing to cock-up on for mine.

And I can cock-it-up sufficiently as is, thanks very much :lol:

I think after reading this I may start to look at boil additives - my current beers are very cloudy (only 3 AG brews in and learning with every one) - but we do strive for a clear beer (in the right category). For me my brewing is all about sharing and whilst I won't care about any haze or cloudiness - I think others will see it as a downside.

 

[MickDundee]

I'm another protofloc in the boil and nothing else. I even bottle straight from primary and have had no problems at all getting clear beer - my second ever AG was carbonated and clear about a week after bottling, although took a little longer until t was ready to drink.

 

[Bounce]

I don't use any finings at all but then I tend to have the patience to leave the beer to condition for quite a while before I drink it. And I'm not bothered about a slightly hazy pint. Having said that, they always seem to come out very clear (with a careful pour) so maybe I've just been lucky.

I know quite a few commercial micro breweries don't use any finings either. Pilot here in Edinburgh actively promote their beer as "Unfined and Unfiltered".

 

[Cqr]

A question do you use a hole protofloc tablet in a 23 vif

 

[geetee]

I don't use any finings at all but then I tend to have the patience to leave the beer to condition for quite a while before I drink it. And I'm not bothered about a slightly hazy pint. Having said that, they always seem to come out very clear (with a careful pour) so maybe I've just been lucky.

I know quite a few commercial micro breweries don't use any finings either. Pilot here in Edinburgh actively promote their beer as "Unfined and Unfiltered".

For us homebrewers it doesn't matter if the beer is cloudy or hazy as we know where it has been and how it has been treated. I do think if a Micro/commercial brewer sells a beer it should be clearly marked unfined/unfiltered as the haziness/cloudiness can mask a multitude of sins.

I went to a local hostelry for a beer that I know to be unfined and on pouring it was thick, like soup and did not clear. The barman emphasised the unfined nature of the beer and the taste was not too clever. next day in the same place I saw him pull the same pint clear as a bell and a sample proved it to be OK. He has either put the beer on too early, I got one sat in the lines or something else went wrong. The last few from the barrel can also be hazy and I would prefer not to drink an intentionally clear beer that is now old and hazy.

The point here is if I know it's unfined it's my choice but if it's not marked and it's cloudy/hazy I may well suspect it is old , badly kept, too new or at worst adulterated. I would suggest that brewers make a feature of unfined beer and be proud of it by labelling, don't give the customer room for doubt!

 

[Grizzly299]

I tend to use Irish moss during the boil if I want to clear a brew.

It's more common to fine casks with Isinglass. True bottle conditioned ales are enjoying a bit of a renaissance at the moment and most of these offerings aren't fined with Isinglass.

Some of the more commercial bottled ales are however fined with Isinglass;

Hobgoblin and other offerings from Wychwood.
Young's
Wells
Guinness

To name a few...

Some excellent bottled ales for anyone who is Vegetarian/Vegan;

Bragdy Conwy Brewery- Rampart
Innis and gun - Their entire range
Hoegaarden
All but four of what Brewdog offer.


For any vegetarian/vegan brewers here that want to check out any beer go to http://www.barnivore.com