Finnings

[MEB]

I've thought that i should try using finings(spelling) in my next brew to see if it clears any better than my brews do without it. So i have a couple of questions...
1./ Are there any 'natural' finings?
2./ How are finings used?
3./ I presume finings are just a coagullant? ie they just make stuff fall out of solution.
4./ Can you add them to a cornie once it's been filled and gassed for a week or two or do i have to add them to the FV before racking off?

Any other advice would be greatfully received. :thumb:

 

[BrewStew]

i know wikipedia isn't always very accurate, but i found their article on it a good read :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finings

1.you can go man made or natural, but i think even most of the natural ones need some intervention either chemical or processing to get it as the end product you would use.

2. i used to use finings in secondary. i've never used them in primary, nor seen anyone using them in primary for beer. the finings i've used are a powder which you whisk in with warm water, pour into your secondary and stir. a pretty simple and short process.

3. correct

4. adding them to the cornie is fine :thumb: it's what i used to do.


i recently stopped using finings as i thought my beer was coming out quite clear without... but when compared to a beer recently that had used finings, there was a noticeable difference between my clear, and the "polished" clear of the fined counterparts. i know it's all cosmetic, but the fined beer did have that professionally brewed look to it, and would make persuading non believers easier too.. so i think i'll be going back to using them and getting myself a large tub of isinglass.

 

[jamesb]

I've thought that i should try using finings(spelling) in my next brew to see if it clears any better than my brews do without it. So i have a couple of questions...
1./ Are there any 'natural' finings?

Fish bladders or cow bones, take your pick

2./ How are finings used?

Add to beer. Wait. Finish.

Takes about 24 hours to to work.

3./ I presume finings are just a coagullant? ie they just make stuff fall out of solution.

Pretty much.

4./ Can you add them to a cornie once it's been filled and gassed for a week or two or do i have to add them to the FV before racking off?

I add it straight to the cornie when I'm racking off, but I'm lazy. Other brewers will vary. I use isinglass for what it's worth.

Any other advice would be greatfully received. :thumb:

Don't eat yellow snow.

 

[BrewStew]

Any other advice would be greatfully received. :thumb:

Don't eat yellow snow.

:rofl: :lol:

 

[BrewStew]

Fish bladders or cow bones, take your pick

your also forgetting irish moss which can be used as a post boil fining too

 

[jamesb]

Fish bladders or cow bones, take your pick

your also forgetting irish moss which can be used as a post boil fining too

You're quite right, but I was assuming MEB wasn't thinking about irish moss.

:P

 

[Aleman]

1./ Are there any 'natural' finings?

Well isinglass is just processed fish guts . . . which are pretty natural
Gelatin is boiled cow hooves, so again natural
Egg white has been used as a fining . . . but I've not tried that one
Another one I've heard about is blood . . ..preferably bulls

2./ How are finings used?

Mix then to a liquid, add to the beer, stir, it about leave in a cool place to settle, rack clear beer off sediment.

3./ I presume finings are just a coagullant? ie they just make stuff fall out of solution.

Yes

4./ Can you add them to a cornie once it's been filled and gassed for a week or two or do i have to add them to the FV before racking off?

You could do that, but its more effective to do it first and rack bright beer to the corny. What I've done is to add aux finings to the FV and stir gently . . . then rack into a secondary, and add isinglass . . . and then rack into corny.

Any other advice would be greatfully received. :thumb:

Never eat in a restaurant located next to a dog rescue center

 

[MEB]

Thanks for the answers guys. :thumb: :
BUT, yellow snow is irrelevant here in sunny NZ :mrgreen: and i thought it had a rather nice acrid taste anyway.
Dog is my 2nd favourite curry after goat. :lol:

And you lot say that i only do serious posts every now and then

 

[Vossy1]

:lol:

 

[highwayman]

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I use Super Cook Gelatine (Cows Bones!!) I add a sachet for each 5 Galls after fermentation has finished. I add a pint of beer and mix itinto the FV. I then leave it 48 hours by which time it has cleared the beer and forms a hard pancake over the yeast on the bottom of the FV. I then rack off the beer into my Cornies..Its clear and works a treat :thumb:

 

[MEB]

Can i add finings to the cornie after the beer has been gassed up and had two weeks in the beer fridge? If 'yes' how?

 

[jamesb]

Can i add finings to the cornie after the beer has been gassed up and had two weeks in the beer fridge? If 'yes' how?

Remove lid of bottle containing finings. Remove lid of cornie. Position bottle of finings over aperature of cornie. Incline bottle to such a position that the finings fall from the bottle into the cornie. Remain in inclined position until such time that requisite amount of finings has been transfered to cornie. Reverse inclination of bottle containing finings. Re-attach both lids. Re-gas cornie. Lather. Repeat.

:lol:

If you're using IG, stick about 10ml in.

 

[MEB]

What do you mean by 'lather'? Do i rub it all over my body to produce a reasonable foam?

Apart from that i'm guessing you just pour some isinglass into the cornie? Any amount? Or just what i feel like at the time?

 

[jamesb]

What do you mean by 'lather'? Do i rub it all over my body to produce a reasonable foam?

That's a rather disturbing image. But yes, I was getting confusicated with shampoo :P

Apart from that i'm guessing you just pour some isinglass into the cornie? Any amount? Or just what i feel like at the time?

It depends on the finings, but I use roughly 10ml of IG. I assume with gelatine you make the sachet up as per Jim's instructions and chuck that in.

 

[MEB]

What the hell is 'confusicated'?????? :wha:

That's for giving a drunken old git a hard time about apostrophies. At least this drunken old fart can spell, you cheeky whipper snapper... :lol:

 

[jamesb]

What the hell is 'confusicated'?????? :wha:

It's how George Bush would say confused.

That's for giving a drunken old git a hard time about apostrophies. At least this
drunken old fart can spell, you cheeky whipper snapper... :lol:

:twisted:

 

[MEB]

So you liken yourself to George Bush-the biggest idiot the world has ever had to put up with? Jeez JB, i thought you had more braincells than a houseplant mate. :lol:

Thanks for the IG stuff though. I'll get some IG tomorrow and give it a whirl in my Styrian Slapper.

 

[jamesb]

So you liken yourself to George Bush-the biggest idiot the world has ever had to put up with? Jeez JB, i thought you had more braincells than a houseplant mate. :lol:

Not at this time in the morning I don't.

 

[MEB]

:lol: :clap: :lol: