Definitive best finings?

[shearclass]

Hi

Regardless of cost, are there soem finigns which are unmistakably better than theo ther finings?

I have been using Isinglass for the last year after i bought a load from my LHBS. This has run out now and i was either goign to buy another container of the stuff, or otherwise get different finings if there is a better option.

I received a comment from another forumite once who said to me about Isinglass - "Isinglass is jsut ...... things have moved on" implying that there is something better.

It seems to have worked fine for me (until very recently in my wines, but putting that down to getting to the dreggs of the container of isinglass) so I am happy to use it again, but jsut thought i would put it out there before i buy some more.

Please don't respond with "I don't sue finings and my beer is crystal..." etc!

Cheers

 

[graysalchemy]

If I do use a finning agent I use gelitine, but I do find that time and a putting the fv on a cold concrete floor is best. Brewing to bottling is usually 2.5 weeks :thumb:

 

[shearclass]

I started using finings for everything, just to reduce sediment in bottles or barrel.

Do you notice any adverse effects from using gelatin, or do yuo prefer not to use it purely because you think it is usually unnecessary?

 

[graysalchemy]

I prefer not touse it or should I say I have no need to use it. If the beer is bright before it goes into the bottle you will only have a small amount of sediment. I also rack into a secondry at least once to get rid of yeast.

 

[Cyclops]

Isinglass only has a short shelf life too, it's actually fish guts.

 

[shearclass]

Yeah I knwo what it is. Though i assume it must be treated somehow, as obviously it doesn't cause beer to go off as I assume putting raw fish into a brew would do.


I was told that it should be kept in the fridge, and be used within a year.

Do you think there is something better to sue than Isinglass?

I recently bougth a plastic carboy, so i could rack to there to clear if necessary. I used to rack to secondary, but thought it was causing my beer to oxidise. Shouldn't have that problem in a carboy though.

 

[Aleman]

Isinglass is the best finings to use, provided you get it in a proper state, most LHBS have kept it for too long and too warm so it's effectiveness has degraded.

If you are buying something like Murphys RFU then keep it cool and use it within a month . . . although I have used it successfully after 12 months . . . you just have to use more . . .my favourite is Murphys AllKlear C although AllKlear A is available from their website.

For home brewers use a proper prehydrolysed dried isinglass is best for long term storage as you can make it up as you need it 24 hours before use.

Standard Dried Isinglass is a PITA to use . . . you can spend two weeks trying to get it into a sensible state for use.

 

[Cyclops]

What's the difference between allklear c and a Tony?

 

[Aleman]

C Has :whistle: :whistle: to be diluted before use

 

[orlando]

I have used a few different copper finings in the past to help with clarifying wort with varying success, the best to date is Protafloc. For bottle fining I like to use Kwik Clear. It is a gelatine based product in two bottles and works by charging the particles with the first bottle with the second the opposite affect to make all the particles coalesce and fall to the bottom of the bottle. I particularly like it if the yeast used is not as flocculent as you want. It usually clears the beer in less than 24 hours and is undetectable (at least to me) in the finished beer, it's remarkable stuff.

You can get it from here http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... _pack.html

 

[RobWalker]

I'm agreeing with Gray here, gravity, time, and a cold floor. No additives and always crystal clear

 

[jamesb]

If you are buying something like Murphys RFU then keep it cool and use it within a month . . . although I have used it successfully after 12 months . . . you just have to use more . . .my favourite is Murphys AllKlear C although AllKlear A is available from their website.

They do a Caskleer paste now with a shelf like (stated) of 12 months. Just mix it up with water and a bit of citric acid. Much easier than the dried stuff.

 

[shearclass]

Isinglass is the best finings to use, provided you get it in a proper state, most LHBS have kept it for too long and too warm so it's effectiveness has degraded.

Excellent, thanks for that. That's exactly the response I was hoping for!

I bought mine from The Hop and Grape last year, as I work round the corner from there. I don't know what type of Isinglass it was, but perhaps I can ask them. It comes ready mixed, whatever it is.

I might see if they do smaller containers which may cost more to buy, but if using older isinglass is less effective, it might be a false encomony to buy a larger amount for cheaper.

Thansk for the information.

I'm agreeing with Gray here, gravity, time, and a cold floor. No additives and always crystal clear

Rob, I remember you putting a pic on here of one of your brews, which you had bottle conditioned and poured, and put a disclaimer underneath the pic along the lines of this one is still a bit cloudy...

 

[RobWalker]

I assume you mean this;

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=23528&hilit=+pure+gold

which was kegged and poured about 10 days after fermenting to check colour and for bad tastes, hence the cloudiness...I don't think I've posted pictures of my bottled beer on here.

 

[jamesb]

In an ideal world, we wouldn't need to fine. Veggies/Vegans don't like it and it does tend to drag a lot of the taste out with it. There's a bit of a movment in the commercial world towards leaving it and letting it take it's time, but most breweries don't have tank space for that.

So it's not ideal, but Isinglass is by far the best thing around.

I've used gelatine in the past when I haven't had the inclination to go out in the rain and get some IG and had excellent results with that though, with the added benefit that it doesn't go off and it doesn't tend to give you fluffy bottoms if you overdose.

 

[RobWalker]

In an ideal world, we wouldn't need to fine. Veggies/Vegans don't like it and it does tend to drag a lot of the taste out with it. There's a bit of a movment in the commercial world towards leaving it and letting it take it's time, but most breweries don't have tank space for that.

Apparently Isinglass is vegetarian society approved because it doesn't stay in the brew - settles to the bottom. Suppose it depends where you stand really though because you are using a product where an animal had to die to make it after all... I've heard about some drying and grinding up egg shells for a vegetarian finer too! Self sufficiency as well. Maybe one for our chicken owners on here :p

 

[jamesb]

Apparently Isinglass is vegetarian society approved

Sorry Rob, that certainly isn't true.

A lot of veggies/vegans will chose to see it as a necessary evil. Although they have plenty of other choice these days if they're willing to shop around.

 

[shearclass]

Apparently Isinglass is vegetarian society approved because it doesn't stay in the brew - settles to the bottom.

If true that is excellent, it means i don't have to feel guilty about a bottle i gave to a veggie mate recently.

and it does tend to drag a lot of the taste out with it.

I didn't realise this... hmmm

 

[shearclass]

RobWalker wrote:
Apparently Isinglass is vegetarian society approved


Sorry Rob, that certainly isn't true.

Ah, ok.... ignore previous post!

 

[RobWalker]

Apparently Isinglass is vegetarian society approved

Sorry Rob, that certainly isn't true.

A lot of veggies/vegans will chose to see it as a necessary evil. Although they have plenty of other choice these days if they're willing to shop around.

Hm, thats annoying...means that 2 months of vegetarianism I did this year didn't really count then...hahah. Whoever told me that is a dick.