Gelatin Didn't Work - What Did I Do Wrong?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by DeutschesBier, Sep 28, 2015.

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  1. DeutschesBier

    DeutschesBier Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2009 Maryland

    I kegged a Koelsch, and I wanted to try to clear it up a bit, so I decided to try the Brulosophy gelatin method:

    http://brulosophy.com/2015/01/05/the-gelatin-effect-exbeeriment-results/

    I chilled the kegged Koelsch to ~38 degrees. I heated a 1/2 tsp of Knox unflavored gelatin to 150 degrees in 7 second bursts. I poured the solution in the keg, and let it sit for 24 hours. That gelatin didn't do shit.

    Did I mess something up? Any other gelatin recs?
     
  2. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Biofine works great for me. All you have to do is add 1-2 tbsp to the beer. It helps to stir it a little to distribute it.

    No idea how to use gelatin or what went wrong with your attempt.
     
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  3. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    try it again, but make sure the solution gets dispersed.
    I am guessing that the mixture dropped straight to the bottom and didn't have any contact time. once the solution solidifies it wont work, just a gum ball at the bottom of the keg.

    that's my only guess. gelatin is really not complicated. maybe the gelatin was old? can it go stale or become less effective?
    good luck.
     
  4. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Patience is likely your friend here. For me, gelatin takes around a week to clear things up.
     
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  5. DeutschesBier

    DeutschesBier Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2009 Maryland

    I guess I'll give it another go-round. I've heard of people letting it "bloom" for 30 minutes before heating and stirring, but I obviously didn't try that.
     
  6. DeutschesBier

    DeutschesBier Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2009 Maryland

    Hmmm I will try giving it another chance, with a couple days rest before I pull a sample. I am not the most patient person, but I guess I'll try it out.
     
  7. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    Then you picked the perfect hobby to work on this.

    What utahbeer said . . . my beer has never really cleared in a day, more like a week. Then it continues clearing a little bit until the keg kicks. The only other technique I do different than the link'ed article is to use 1 tsp of Knox and don't add until the beer is below 40. Then wait, wait, wait. Remember, in almost all cases your beer is getting better'er and better'er.

    Randomly there are some yeast strains that never seem to clear well ( I'm talking about you, Conan). Also, it may be hard to tell the different in haze produced by yeast in suspension versus proteins/tannins. The later is better attacked by your boil/chill technique.
     
    #7 PortLargo, Sep 28, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2015
  8. psnydez86

    psnydez86 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Gelatin also takes 5-7 days to work optimally for me also. Sounds like you did everything correct.

    Patience grasshopper.
     
  9. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    I'm a fan of Irish Moss with 15 left in the boil myself...doesn't help you now, but in the future it might be an easier way to clear your beer "ahead of time".
     
    Joshjv likes this.
  10. DarrenE

    DarrenE Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2015 Minnesota

    For me, gelatin works well at pulling yeast out of suspension and only takes 24 hours. I have frequent chill haze in my beers and gelatin does next to nothing for this. Once I made a pilsner that I wanted to clear quickly and used gelatin in addition to clarity ferm, which is advertised for chill haze. Man did that beer clear quickly. After lagering for less than a week it looked like it had lagered for several weeks.
     
  11. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Irish Moss : Proteins :: Gelatin : Yeast
     
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  12. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    In my experience, gelatin makes the beer almost eerily clear after two days. It's never failed me. I've only used it in my Cream Ale fermented with US-05 - I don't obsess over appearance in most other styles, so I don't know how it acts with other yeasts.
     
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