Do you filter your beer?

[breyton]

Sometimes. Certain yeasts (WLP029) and malts (Munton's American Style) seem to take an inordinate amount of time to clear on their own.

Makes 'em prettier too! This is a Blonde Ale made with Munton's American Style that had been cold conditioning for many weeks. I finally said "F-this!" and filtered it. didn't hurt it any; we actully did blind triangle tastings in opaque cups and everyone preferred the filtered version.

DannyW,

What size micron rating did you do this filtering with?

[DannyW]

What size micron rating did you do this filtering with?

I'd have to look in my notes to make sure, but I'm 99% sure it was a B3 "Polish" filter. Website says that is a 0.7µ but does not say if that is nominal or absolute.

[breyton]

but I'm 99% sure it was a B3 "Polish" filter. Website says that is a 0.7µ but does not say if that is nominal or absolute.

Thanks. I typically use the B3 Rough filter and haven't seen my beers come out as clear as the picture you posted. I may try the tighter filter rating. The B3 plate filters are NOT absolute rated filters. The rough filter gives a range of 3-7 microns.

At the polish rated filter, did you taste any noticeable drop off in bitterness and / or hop aroma?

[DannyW]

It was a Blonde Ale, so not a lot of finishing hops to get reduced. The most noticeable flavor characteristic was indeed a drop, or mellowing, of bitterness. The prefilter sample tasted fine by itself, but when side by side with the filtered version we could tell that a harsh quality of the bitterness had been removed. My guess was that we were tasting some bitterness from the yeast before, and removing the yeast removed that bitterness. The beer overall was improved.

[Mylo]

I thought a polish filter was a colander? (Sorry, couldn't resist...)


Mylo

[Jhwk]

Only filter it through my teeth.

[macgruffus]

Only filter it through my teeth.

I use my liver.