Advice on 2nd fining

[Stockport1]

As a newbie it is still a little daunting as you will understand.
My first brew from a kit (American APA) stopped at 1014. So I added finings. This was in accordance with Mangrove Jack's website. But weirdly it started bubbling vigorously again. It has now got to 1010.
I racked it this morning. Incidentally I started this on the 18th Oct. It has been at 22c most of the time. Also I have checked that my hydrometer is calibrated correctly.
My dilema is, as the wort is still very cloudy should I or can I add finings again or leave it?
I was hoping to rack it again and add the priming sugar to the wort before bottling as per my kit instructions.
So to cut this long story short...Should I add more finings or will it be ok to leave it to clear naturally before racking again. Hope you understand that?

 

[foxy]

As a newbie it is still a little daunting as you will understand.
My first brew from a kit (American APA) stopped at 1014. So I added finings. This was in accordance with Mangrove Jack's website. But weirdly it started bubbling vigorously again. It has now got to 1010.
I racked it this morning. Incidentally I started this on the 18th Oct. It has been at 22c most of the time. Also I have checked that my hydrometer is calibrated correctly.
My dilema is, as the wort is still very cloudy should I or can I add finings again or leave it?
I was hoping to rack it again and add the priming sugar to the wort before bottling as per my kit instructions.
So to cut this long story short...Should I add more finings or will it be ok to leave it to clear naturally before racking again. Hope you understand that?

Have you cold crashed the beer? Adding fining's is really like a quick fix, cold crashing should clear your beer within a couple of days, if it doesn't then the problem is somewhere else, fining's not only clear beer but can cause colour and hop flavour to drop also.

 

[crowcrow]

Also, I've bottled many a cloudy brew that has turned out pretty clear when I've gone on to drink it a month or so later - time clears a lot. Just might get a slightly thicker amount of yeast and stuff at the bottom of the bottle, but it is easy to not pour that.

As above, if you can cold crash that will get a lot of junk out, without needing to add anything.

 

[Stockport1]

Yes ...I have put it in my garage. It's cold in there. I am reluctant to put in a second dose of finings.
So I'll take your advice. I'll leave it for a few days in the cold to see if it clears. Then I'll bottle it.
Thanks to all again. It's a learning curve. I'm enjoying it so far.

 

[foxy]

Yes ...I have put it in my garage. It's cold in there. I am reluctant to put in a second dose of finings.
So I'll take your advice. I'll leave it for a few days in the cold to see if it clears. Then I'll bottle it.
Thanks to all again. It's a learning curve. I'm enjoying it so far.

Cold crashing, putting it in the fridge at -1 C or -2 C depending on ABV, if you got clear wort going into the fermenter then you should only have yeast in suspension.
Cloudy wort can have up to 40 times more unsaturated fatty acids, while some fatty acids contribute to yeast viability, even in a clear looking wort at 20C will have enough in there to help the yeast.

 

[Stockport1]

You will see from my original post that this is my first attempt at home brewing.
I therefore have no idea what you are talking about.
I reiterate , simply, can I add finings a second time in the same sort?

 

[foxy]

You will see from my original post that this is my first attempt at home brewing.
I therefore have no idea what you are talking about.
I reiterate , simply, can I add finings a second time in the same sort?
Admin... surely this is not a difficult question to answer.

You have already added the fining's, adding more will not help, as I pointed out the pitfalls of fining's the answer would be no.

 

[Stockport1]

Ok thank you. I will wait a few days before bottling. No doubt I will become more experienced as time goes on. Now looking forward to my next brew.

 

[foxy]

Ok thank you. I will wait a few days before bottling. No doubt I will become more experienced as time goes on. Now looking forward to my next brew.

Try and read as much as you can, How to Brew John Palmer is a good place to start, as you get more experience you can go into the more technical side of home brewing. If you don't understand anything in an answer just ask.

 

[Brew Dad]

Admin... surely this is not a difficult question to answer.

Brewing your first batch of beer can certainly be stressful, but ultimately it is a hobby, and should be fun. Appealing to "admin" because you are new, and don't like the FREE advice of other forum members? Really?

 

[foxy]

Brewing your first batch of beer can certainly be stressful, but ultimately it is a hobby, and should be fun. Appealing to "admin" because you are new, and don't like the FREE advice of other forum members? Really?

To be fair Stockport should be cut some slack, it is daunting climbing the slippery slope of home brewing. It is easy for those with more experience to forget what it was like starting out, myself included.

 

[crowcrow]

Totally, but stick with it @Stockport1 and welcome to the forum. It is a great fun and very rewarding hobby. My only advice would be that more often than not you can mess one or two things up and still get a drinkable beer.

Personally, I'd bottle now and let things settle in the bottle, esp if you don't have a fridge or freezer you can cold crash in, but then again I've only been brewing a couple of years and I find I'm often wrong

You can read a version of How to Brew here http://howtobrew.com/ though I don't think that is the latest version, which you have to buy, but often 2nd hand copies on eBay or the library can get you a copy. Well worth a read, regardless of whether of not you will stick with kits, or try extract or all grain brewing.

 

[Stockport1]

Thank you crow crow. The book looks good. I will get the latest copy. Hopefully, I'll be giving advice soon.

 

[Mr Brico]

As a newbie it is still a little daunting as you will understand.
My first brew from a kit (American APA) stopped at 1014. So I added finings. This was in accordance with Mangrove Jack's website. But weirdly it started bubbling vigorously again. It has now got to 1010.
I racked it this morning. Incidentally I started this on the 18th Oct. It has been at 22c most of the time. Also I have checked that my hydrometer is calibrated correctly.
My dilema is, as the wort is still very cloudy should I or can I add finings again or leave it?
I was hoping to rack it again and add the priming sugar to the wort before bottling as per my kit instructions.
So to cut this long story short...Should I add more finings or will it be ok to leave it to clear naturally before racking again. Hope you understand that?

Ive added a second lot of finnings to my Brown Ale, still not perfectly clear, but Ive barreled mine, no extra sugar, just Co2 bulb, its fine, about 8% ABV too, better than Newkie Brown.

 

[Stockport1]

Wow that sounds very nice..I fancy doing a newkie brown one day.

 

[Mr Brico]

Wow that sounds very nice..I fancy doing a newkie brown one day.

I used a Simply Brown Ale kit, better than Newcastle Brown Ale. I brewed it 5ltrs short, just added 500g of sugar,(half a bag, didn't weigh it).

 

[Stockport1]

What a good idea. I can see how that would be a better flavour and stronger. A good tip for the future.

 

[Stockport1]

Brewing your first batch of beer can certainly be stressful, but ultimately it is a hobby, and should be fun. Appealing to "admin" because you are new, and don't like the FREE advice of other forum members? Really?

Yes sorry. I wasnt familiarvwith the forum. Admin had initially asked how things were going. I mistakenly asked them that question. So I wrongly assumed it was ok to go back to them. It's a steep learning curve for me. Especially forums as I've never used them before.
I've had some great advice up to now. Even the answer i didn't understand. It has prompted me to look up the information he kindly provided.
So once again apologies for any misunderstanding.

 

[Stockport1]

Foxy...Thank you got your advice. I've looked up some of the info you first provided. It's very interesting.
I've taken your advice. I've not put more finings in. Ive just bottled it. Ive tasted it and am very happy with my first brew. I know it can only get better left in the bottle for a few weeks. So onwards and upwards.
Sorry for the earlier misunderstanding.

 

[Brew Dad]

Yes sorry. I wasnt familiarvwith the forum. Admin had initially asked how things were going. I mistakenly asked them that question. So I wrongly assumed it was ok to go back to them. It's a steep learning curve for me. Especially forums as I've never used them before.
I've had some great advice up to now. Even the answer i didn't understand. It has prompted me to look up the information he kindly provided.
So once again apologies for any misunderstanding.

No problem, and sorry if I was a bit harsh.

As others have said, keep reading, and the knowledge will come. Also, as the chap at the homebrew store told me when I was panicking about my first batch, it is pretty rare to make a truly undrinkable batch unless you stray really far from the basics. Once you have it in the fermenter and have pitched your yeast, leave it alone until dryhopping or fining (if applicable) and then leave it alone until packaging. Chances are you will have something pretty drinkable after a few weeks of conditioning.

Good luck, and welcome to the forum!