Clumping

[Pearlfisher]

I made a Sierra Nevade Extract from a recipe last Monday. It's probably finished fermenting now but looking through the sides of the FV it seems to be 75-80% clumps.
I've never had a brew clump so much , anyone had similar ,if so how long should I leave it to settle?

 

[bobsbeer]

Probably just the yeast and trub. As it's only been a week I would leave it at least another week if not 2. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Pearlfisher]

Thanks BB

 

[Pearlfisher]

It's been 14 days now since I brewed it , the clumps are now only in the bottom half of the FV , will it be ok to leave another week or should I try stirring it? :wha:

 

[rpt]

Have you taken any gravity readings? If fermentation has finished then you can lower the temperature as that will help the yeast to drop out.

 

[Pearlfisher]

I always keg after 7 days and never bother with readings , it will have finished fermenting ,but I've no way of cooling it with this warm weather.

 

[Hawks]

when you say clumps - does it look like cauliflower?

Only mention as this can be use of too much protofloc ( had it happen to me once and it is the strangest sight )

 

[Pearlfisher]

Looks like small dumplings , I used a tablespoon of Irish Moss.

 

[Pearlfisher]

when you say clumps - does it look like cauliflower?

Only mention as this can be use of too much protofloc ( had it happen to me once and it is the strangest sight )

Was it ok eventually?

 

[Hawks]

Yep - it was fine, I think I got some of the truly huge bits out carefully with a sanitised sieve, then just syphoned the rest. :thumb:

 

[Pearlfisher]

Thanks Hawks

 

[Hawks]

Looks like small dumplings , I used a tablespoon of Irish Moss.

There's your problem - use a teaspoon, not a tablespoon ( missed that last time ) :thumb: ( I assume 5 gallons btw )

 

[Pearlfisher]

Thanks Hawks ,I must have read the instructions wrong ,I'll know next time.

 

[rpt]

Looks like small dumplings , I used a tablespoon of Irish Moss.

There's your problem - use a teaspoon, not a tablespoon ( missed that last time ) :thumb: ( I assume 5 gallons btw )

I'd wondered about that but I use 3g of irish moss in 35L of wort (23L in FV) and it seems to be more than a teaspoon.

 

[Hawks]

Looks like small dumplings , I used a tablespoon of Irish Moss.

There's your problem - use a teaspoon, not a tablespoon ( missed that last time ) :thumb: ( I assume 5 gallons btw )

I'd wondered about that but I use 3g of irish moss in 35L of wort (23L in FV) and it seems to be more than a teaspoon.

Its a bit like protofloc - you can buy packets that say use a tablet to 5 gallons, if you do you will likely get clumping. I use half a tablet to 10 gallons and it does its job perfectly. Before that I used Irish Moss and found a teaspoon seemed to be the best amount. The bonus being a pot then lasts longer as well :thumb:

 

[rpt]

I think irish moss comes in different granularities and so a teaspoon of powder will be much more than a teaspoon of flakes (which is what I have). So 3g seems a safer measurement - I have no idea if it is the right amount or not. I'm just going by Graham Wheeler's recipes.

 

[Hawks]

Ah - I only ever had it in flakes - and used a teaspoon for years

 

[rpt]

I shall have to try just a teaspoon next time. How will I know if I am using enough?

 

[Hawks]

If you are not getting issues you may not want to change - what pf described though sounded like excess copper finings.

I'm not sure you'd be able to tell until the beer clears :wha: ( although you'd get a good idea when you start to run if off as you'd see the break material )