Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:12 pm
by chirobrew
Hello everyone,
I recently brewed a fat tire clone and forgot the whirlflock tablet. I'm going to attempt to use gelatin as shown on previous forum topics for the first time. My question is, does it matter what temperature the the beer is when you add it? Should I cold crash it first and then add gelatin or should I add the gelatin and then cold crash? Does it matter at all?
Thanks ahead of time!
Re: Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:21 pm
by bpfishback
Add gelatin then chill but I'm not sure it matters.
Re: Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:03 pm
by Jbug
bpfishback wrote:Add gelatin then chill but I'm not sure it matters.
+1 I also add gelatin and then directly to the fridge to crash.
Josh
Re: Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:44 pm
by chirobrew
Thanks guys! I went ahead and added it warm and then started to cold crash it. I appreciate the heads up.
Re: Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:23 am
by andy77
I use gelatin on every batch with great results. It's my understanding that gelatin works on yeast and wirlfloc works on protein, so adding one to compensate for missing the other isn't exactly square. But you'll love the results.
I've added wirlfloc to the warm beer in the carboy then cold crashed. I've added to the keg before racking and chilling. I've even added it to a cold and carbed keg. All of these worked fantastically, but the last one was a bit messy.
Prior to using gelatin I tried everything I could to clear my beer. I had mediocre results with isinglass, super-kleer KC and biofine. Filtering worked great but required I clean an extra keg per batch and also clean the filter housing. Gelatin is so cheap and easy and is by far the most effective fining I've used. I don't know why every one doesn't use it.
I'm clearly a gelatin evangelist. Call me Mr. Jello.
Re: Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:45 am
by Dirk McLargeHuge
andy77 wrote:Call me Mr. Jello.
All right, but you'll get tired of it!
+1 on gelatin. It works wonders for me, too.
Re: Pitching gelatin temperature
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:37 pm
by chirobrew
Thanks Andy! That helps me a ton. After reading other forum post I'm so excited to start using gelatin in all my beers! I'm surprised more people don't use it. The beer has settled the yeast very well over the past two days with gelatin and a cold crash.
I guess that's what mistakes are for... learning how to do more cool things and become a better brewer.