Finings in a closed fermenter

[gar]

I've been using this for a couple of years without any problems, I use Brausol special from The Malt Miller, I've not used gelatin.View attachment 98895

Hi dave. How many doses do you get from a pack of BrauSol?

 

[Davegase]

Currently The Malt Miller do two sizes.

15ml £2.50 = approx 2 doses per 23lt batch.
250gram £8.99= approx 35 doses per 23lt batch.

I probably won't get through the larger pack before the expiry date. It's a shame they don't do something in between.

 

[Buffers brewery]

Update. The APA I brewed a month ago has finished carbonating so I decided to give 'closed circuit' fining a go. BUT. Before I do it for real I decided to do a rehearsal with water instead of Starsan and gelatin solution. Following your suggestions and advice, this is the kit I assembled for the job ..

The starting position is everything is clean and sanitised. Using my retort stand as a third hand I filled the bottle with Starsan from the flask, venting the bottle through the gas line..

... stopping when Starsan drains through the gas line..

Then I swap the gas vent for the gas supply from my cylinder and flush the Starsan back to the flask filling the bottle and connectors with CO2.

..note the jug position to catch the overflow (oops). I noticed there was some Starsan left in the bottle so reversed the gas connection to the bottle and vented the other to blow the dregs of Starsan out

The bottle is now 'full' of CO2.
The gelatine solution is then poured into the (warmed with boiling water from the kettle) flask that is in turn connected to the bottle which is vented through the gas connection to allow the bottle to fill. The flask is disconnected before all the gelatine solution is transferred leaving some in the connector and pipe.

At this point I have gelatine solution in a bottle with CO2 in the headspace.

Now to do it for real, and here's the gelatine solution being transferred to the barrel of APA that's been sitting at 3C for the last 3 days.

I'll leave it at 3C for 2 days then condition at 10C until a space becomes available in the barrelator and I can see if there's a difference.
Watch this space!

 

[Jiffy176]

Update. The APA I brewed a month ago has finished carbonating so I decided to give 'closed circuit' fining a go. BUT. Before I do it for real I decided to do a rehearsal with water instead of Starsan and gelatin solution. Following your suggestions and advice, this is the kit I assembled for the job ..
View attachment 99535
The starting position is everything is clean and sanitised. Using my retort stand as a third hand I filled the bottle with Starsan from the flask, venting the bottle through the gas line..

View attachment 99536
... stopping when Starsan drains through the gas line..
View attachment 99537
Then I swap the gas vent for the gas supply from my cylinder and flush the Starsan back to the flask filling the bottle and connectors with CO2.
View attachment 99538
..note the jug position to catch the overflow (oops). I noticed there was some Starsan left in the bottle so reversed the gas connection to the bottle and vented the other to blow the dregs of Starsan out
View attachment 99540
The bottle is now 'full' of CO2.
The gelatine solution is then poured into the (warmed with boiling water from the kettle) flask that is in turn connected to the bottle which is vented through the gas connection to allow the bottle to fill. The flask is disconnected before all the gelatine solution is transferred leaving some in the connector and pipe.
View attachment 99542
At this point I have gelatine solution in a bottle with CO2 in the headspace.
View attachment 99543
Now to do it for real, and here's the gelatine solution being transferred to the barrel of APA that's been sitting at 3C for the last 3 days.
View attachment 99544
I'll leave it at 3C for 2 days then condition at 10C until a space becomes available in the barrelator and I can see if there's a difference.
Watch this space!

What are you fermenting in.
For my fermzilla all rounders I used a pop bottle half filled with mixture, purged with co2 amd then pressure shot in to fermenter just before cold crash.
On the stainless I drop the mixture through the bung hole at the top and replace.
On both I give them a good shake once in.

I tried gelatine. But found finings adjunct and chitis...... whatever it's called 24 hours later a much better result.

 

[Buffers brewery]

What are you fermenting in.
For my fermzilla all rounders I used a pop bottle half filled with mixture, purged with co2 amd then pressure shot in to fermenter just before cold crash.
On the stainless I drop the mixture through the bung hole at the top and replace.
On both I give them a good shake once in.

I tried gelatine. But found finings adjunct and chitis...... whatever it's called 24 hours later a much better result.

I use a standard plastic fermentation bucket with a lid. I tape around the lid to reduce any leakage and do closed transfer to a pressure barrel 'filled' with CO2 after priming with sugar solution for carbonation. Consequently I decided to add the gelatine finings after carbonation and before conditioning.

 

[Jiffy176]

I use a standard plastic fermentation bucket with a lid. I tape around the lid to reduce any leakage and do closed transfer to a pressure barrel 'filled' with CO2 after priming with sugar solution for carbonation. Consequently I decided to add the gelatine finings after carbonation and before conditioning.

Yep that works. I guess if you wanted to fine whilst in the fermenter then removing the airlock and injecting in would work and make leave a greater amount in fermenter.

 

[Buffers brewery]

I could do both!? I could fine after fermentation during cold crash using the same method, and again after carbonation. Would that be overkill?

 

[Jiffy176]

Think so. Have had better results with the two step version than gelatine not sure how all 3 would mix

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Try auxillary finings in the fermenter then other finings at transfer.

 

[MisterMike]

Hi Buffers brewery, do have any tips on blanking off the tap hole on the pressure barrel?

 

[Buffers brewery]

Hi Buffers brewery, do have any tips on blanking off the tap hole on the pressure barrel?

Hi @MisterMike . I use a 3/4” BSP stainless steel nipple through the hole with a hex nut and washer on the inside and a 3/4” BSP round cap on the outside with the old tap washer to form a seal (on the outside). Note, the stainless steel cap is cast so the face needs to be filed smooth to get a good seal. I use liquid PTFE (from Screwfix) to seal the nipple to the round cap first (takes about 3 days to fully cure).

I get the nipple, nut and cap from…
https://pipedreamfittings.com/produ...ings/150lb-bsp-stainless-steel-pipe-fittings/

 

[MisterMike]

Thank you

 

[Buffers brewery]

Update. This is the end result of my first attempt at fining one of my beers....

Well pleased with that.

 

[hoppyscotty]

@Buffers brewery that looks lush. My last one. To be fair this one normally drops out clear given a couple of weeks of conditioning, but this batch was needed a bit early than I’d normally condition for so used gelatine in the keg.

 

[Its6pmsomewhere]

Hi @MisterMike . I use a 3/4” BSP stainless steel nipple through the hole with a hex nut and washer on the inside and a 3/4” BSP round cap on the outside with the old tap washer to form a seal (on the outside). Note, the stainless steel cap is cast so the face needs to be filed smooth to get a good seal. I use liquid PTFE (from Screwfix) to seal the nipple to the round cap first (takes about 3 days to fully cure). View attachment 99668
I get the nipple, nut and cap from…
https://pipedreamfittings.com/produ...ings/150lb-bsp-stainless-steel-pipe-fittings/

That is a thing of beauty

 

[Buffers brewery]

That is a thing of beauty

I did consider using plastic parts but opted for stainless steel parts to get a good tight seal.

 

[foxy]

From what I have read finings are capable of stripping colour and hop aroma. Cold crash means just above freezing, so in a finished fermenting wort -1 to -2 C depending on the ABV. Charlie Bamforth covers beer clarity and haze with Brad Smith. He does state that even at zero there are particles that will not drop out (around the 42 minute mark) he also discusses finings for those wishing to use them. I have found taking the beer down to -1 or -2C to be enough to get a clear beer without finings.

https://beersmith.com/blog/2017/02/...th-dr-charlie-bamforth-beersmith-podcast-142/

 

[Buffers brewery]

Interesting @foxy . As I carbonate using priming sugar that creates yeast activity I guess cold crashing the carbonated beer down to -1C for a couple of days should clear the finished beer?

 

[Davegase]

From what I have read finings are capable of stripping colour and hop aroma. Cold crash means just above freezing, so in a finished fermenting wort -1 to -2 C depending on the ABV. Charlie Bamforth covers beer clarity and haze with Brad Smith. He does state that even at zero there are particles that will not drop out (around the 42 minute mark) he also discusses finings for those wishing to use them. I have found taking the beer down to -1 or -2C to be enough to get a clear beer without finings.
View attachment 100404
https://beersmith.com/blog/2017/02/...th-dr-charlie-bamforth-beersmith-podcast-142/

My favourite quote from Charlie Bamforth "as you know I refuse to use the F word"

 

[Buffers brewery]

As it happens I have a pale ale just finishing carbonation today. I was planning on fining but will try cold crashing the carbonated beer for 2-3 days before conditioning and see how it comes out.