Gelatin?

[fulkrum78]

I keep seeing references to using gelatin for post fermentation clarification. Just curious, how do you go about it, and how much do you lose through the process?

[ElectricLandlord]

I've been using gelatin for a few years and get crystal-clear beers. My process is as follows:

- crash cool the beer to approx zero degrees for 2 or 3 days
- boil some water (about half a litre)
- pour water into a sanitised jug, cover and leave to cool for 15 mins
- sprinkle a teaspoon of powdered gelatin on the water, cover and leave for another 15 mins
- stir well with a sanitised spoon to dissolve the gelatin
- tip the mixture into your bottling bucket (if bottling) or keg
- rack the cold beer onto the mixture

Works every time and I don't get a significant amount of loss.

[fulkrum78]

So you leave the gelatin and all in the keg? You don't rack off of it?

I've been using gelatin for a few years and get crystal-clear beers. My process is as follows:

- crash cool the beer to approx zero degrees for 2 or 3 days
- boil some water (about half a litre)
- pour water into a sanitised jug, cover and leave to cool for 15 mins
- sprinkle a teaspoon of powdered gelatin on the water, cover and leave for another 15 mins
- stir well with a sanitised spoon to dissolve the gelatin
- tip the mixture into your bottling bucket (if bottling) or keg
- rack the cold beer onto the mixture

Works every time and I don't get a significant amount of loss.

[ElectricLandlord]

So you leave the gelatin and all in the keg? You don't rack off of it?

Correct. It leaves a little bit of sludge at the bottom but never enough to block up the draw tube.

[andy77]

I use gelatin with great results.

My process is similar. I use a 500ml flask and boil 300ml of water. I stick a lab thermometer in the water as I take it off the heat, cover the opening with tin foil. When the temp hits the 140-150 range I add an entire package of Knox Gelatin. I add half to each of two kegs, purge with CO2, then rack right on top. The beer is clear in a week and sparkling in two. And yes, you leave the sludge on the bottom. Some do transfer off the sludge into another keg, and I will do this if I'm taking the keg somewhere because moving the keg around will kick up sludge.

[fulkrum78]

Gotcha! I'm guessing you like the results then?

[BrewerJ]

My result is also similar to andy77 except that when the water is done boiling i pull off the burner and add half a pack per five gallons. I have been doing this for about 4 years and really am satisfied with the results. Gelatin is only great for yeast clarification if you have chill haze or a polyphenol haze you will have to use another method to clear your beer.

[andy77]

Gotcha! I'm guessing you like the results then?

Tremendously. Most of my beers are clear in a week and filtered looking within 2 or 3.

I tried biofine clear, KC Super Kleer and isinglass before trying gelatin and none of those can even approach the results I've achieved with gelatin.