8 replies to this topic

[MX1]

I do not keg yet, but I still would like to clear my brew up a little bit more. I need some yest to naturally carb my beer:If I use a 5 micron filter will it remove too much yeast?Would a 10 micron filter even take anything out?ThanksTim

[BFB]

If you have a little time...and fridge space...you'll find that bottled beer drops veeery clear after some time in the fridge.The beer will carb, you put it in the fridge and will prolly get some chill haze. That haze will drop and leave nice clear beer. The longer it's in the fridge, the clearer it gets.IMHO...filtering removes a bit of character.

[rockon]

I think most will tell you that filtering on a HB level might not be worth it. I agree with BFB that some time in the fridge will probably clear your beer, especially if you used irish moss or something in your boil. I've also found that getting to a quick boil with a good hot break, and cooling quickly with a good cold creak have helped my beers' clarity.

Edited by rockon, 02 April 2009 - 07:53 AM.

[BrewerGeorge]

I do not keg yet, but I still would like to clear my brew up a little bit more. I need some yest to naturally carb my beer:If I use a 5 micron filter will it remove too much yeast?Would a 10 micron filter even take anything out?ThanksTim

I'm not usually one to jump on the "don't filter" bandwagon. I have a filter myself.However, if you're bottling, I really don't think filtering will help you. Basically, a filter that's big enough to let your carbonation yeast through will also let the chill haze particles through. The only option would be to choose a filter small enough to remove the chill haze, which will make the beer sterile, then add back different yeast for carbonation.

[gumballhead]

If you want it as clear as possible rack from primary to 2nd start at top of bucket and work down to trub.then put the the 2ndary in fridge to cold crash and settle for a few days. then do same thing to bottle.start at the top and work down. this will min the haze and goodies in most of the bottles. Happy brewing.

[BrianBrewerKS]

I filtered my last batch...a red ale.I used a nominal 0.5 filter...and the process was actually fairly easy and didn't take all that long. As for the end product? I am 'satisfied'. I still had chill haze to let settle, but that wasn't a big deal. The flavor and body didn't seem to suffer...although this wasn't a beer that was really 'big' enough or hoppy enough to really prove much. It did get the suspended yeast and other junk out of the beer...so that's nice.With all of that said, I don't think I'll filter very often. Like others have already said, time and temperature can get most beers as clear as you'd ever need. I'll save the filtering to beers that I want ready faster and that don't have big body and hoppiness that 'might' be stripped somewhat by the filtration.A filtration system is a neat tool to have, but by no means is it a necessity.

[Big Nake]

I bought a filter a few years ago and never used it. I just gave it to another homebrewer last week because hey may have a yeast allergy. As mentioned, you can get your beers very clear without a filter and still have plenty of yeast for bottle priming. Check out my site to see pics of clear beer in the "Beer Gallery" and go to "General Brewing Information" (about ¾ of the way down the page) for a section on producing clear beer. The one thing that kills me on the idea of filtering is that it sometimes needs to be filtered twice, the filtering can be time consuming and the filters can also suck up as much as 20% of your beer! I'm a clear-beer freak but I've yet to filter a beer. Good luck.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I almost bought one of the whole house filters last year and thought about doing the filter thing. I didn't find the connectors I need for the hoses and filter and scraped the idea. Just recently I have been noticing the clarity of my kegged beers. Keger at constant 38 degrees and I have said yes cold temp and time does the trick. No filtering here I would say its not worth the investment or hassle.

[BikeBrewer]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a filter setup, but mostly for mead. I just hate trying to get that last bit out without disturbing the yeast sediment.