Filtering question for Mike McDole

[BigNastyBrew]

Another question as I just bought a cartidge type filter.

Is 1 micron too small? I see where Tasty said it was a recipe issue if flavor is stripped.

Basically, I'm in fucking love with the Ordinary Bitter Recipe from Brewing Classic Styles. I would absolutely HATE to lose some of that bready, nutty, doughy aroma and flavor from a filter.

Thanks

[TastyMcD]

I'm surprised your Mild isn't clear without filtering. The yeasts that are typically used floc like a ton of bricks. I never filter below 7 micron unless it's a problem beer (1in 50). I just want it to look clear. 5-7 micron should be fine.

Tasty

[BigNastyBrew]

I'm surprised your Mild isn't clear without filtering. The yeasts that are typically used floc like a ton of bricks. I never filter below 7 micron unless it's a problem beer (1in 50). I just want it to look clear. 5-7 micron should be fine.

Tasty

It's actually VERY clear in the hydrometer sample. I used the WLP002. I guess my question was for general purpose. Last time I brewed it, it was clear in the samples but cloudy as hell when I tapped it. Maybe chill haze but it never really cleared up. Like you, I just want it to look clear.

[breyton]

Tasty wrote:

. I just want it to look clear.

Tasty...just curious on your definition of clear. Does clear to you mean like "Bud" where I can easily read letters looking thru the glass or is it something else (slight haze, can partially see thru the beer, but could not easily read letters?)

Chris

[gordonstrong]

Hey Tasty,

I have the same type of plate filter, I think. Didn't get it from MoreBeer, so it may not be the same. I remember it being Canadian. I had a hell of a time getting fittings, etc. to fit with the supplied hoses without using reducers or other inline things . I want as few "joints" in the system as possible since every time you add a part, you have to worry about cleaning it and every time you make a transition, you worry about turbulence or other problems getting introduced.

Can you itemize the end-to-end components in your filtering setup and if anything is unusual, where you sourced it? Seems to me the problem was the barb on the filter was a different size than the barb on a beer fitting for a keg, so I couldn't just run the filter hoses directly to the beer fittings. I would have thought a different size barb for the beer fitting would be the answer, but couldn't find one.

Have you ever noticed any oxidation being introduced from the filtering process, or do you do anything special to mitigate it? I haven't but LHBS people were warning about it.

I only use it on a few styles, mostly the paler pils-based beers. Cream ale, kolsch, American lager, etc. But I usually try to fine it first since it means I have fewer things to clean. Seems like at 7 microns, you're likely to be mostly getting yeast or other large particles that haven't floc'd. Do you fine it first, and that's what gives you bigger particles to filter?

Thanks,

Gordon

[TastyMcD]

Tasty wrote:

. I just want it to look clear.

Tasty...just curious on your definition of clear. Does clear to you mean like "Bud" where I can easily read letters looking thru the glass or is it something else (slight haze, can partially see thru the beer, but could not easily read letters?)

Chris

Yes, clear enough you can read through a lower SRM beer. No haze whatsoever.

Tasty

[TastyMcD]

Hey Tasty,

I have the same type of plate filter, I think. Didn't get it from MoreBeer, so it may not be the same. I remember it being Canadian. I had a hell of a time getting fittings, etc. to fit with the supplied hoses without using reducers or other inline things . I want as few "joints" in the system as possible since every time you add a part, you have to worry about cleaning it and every time you make a transition, you worry about turbulence or other problems getting introduced.

Can you itemize the end-to-end components in your filtering setup and if anything is unusual, where you sourced it? Seems to me the problem was the barb on the filter was a different size than the barb on a beer fitting for a keg, so I couldn't just run the filter hoses directly to the beer fittings. I would have thought a different size barb for the beer fitting would be the answer, but couldn't find one.

Have you ever noticed any oxidation being introduced from the filtering process, or do you do anything special to mitigate it? I haven't but LHBS people were warning about it.

I only use it on a few styles, mostly the paler pils-based beers. Cream ale, kolsch, American lager, etc. But I usually try to fine it first since it means I have fewer things to clean. Seems like at 7 microns, you're likely to be mostly getting yeast or other large particles that haven't floc'd. Do you fine it first, and that's what gives you bigger particles to filter?

Thanks,

Gordon

Here's the basic filtering setup I have. http://morebeer.com/view_product/5759//Beer_and_Wine_Plate_Filter_Kit_ They get around the transition from 5/16 to 1/4 by using these: http://morebeer.com/view_product/18264//1_4%22_Nut_5_16_Barb along with flared beverage out connectors.

Certainly oxidation introduction is the largest risk with any transfer and a filter adds a lot more points of failure. I'm always watchful for bubbles appearing in the transfer tubing. It's easy to assume it's CO2 that has naturally dissolved into the unfiltered beer. There's a plastic "Y" connector that joins the two outbound sides of the filter. I recently heard from a brewer who had a crack in his and was oxidizing all his beers. Not what you want to be doing in the final steps of making the beer.

I always flush the filter with CO2 right before starting the filtering process. I also run about a half pint of beer out into my dump bucket. I rarely use fining agents. I generally store the racked beer at 34F for a week so by the time I filter, it's pretty clear (not bright) to begin with. 7 micron seems to give me just the clarity I'm looking for.

Tasty

[gordonstrong]

Thanks, Tasty. That keg part is *exactly* what I was looking for.

You know this, but you rock.