Irish Moss AND Protafloc or just one into the copper?

[Hoodlum]

Is protafloc directly interchangeable with Irish Moss? I'm guessing I would use just the one (Protafloc) and not both, but it's purely just that - a guess...

Anyone got the answer?

Thanks

[Eadweard]

Yes, protafloc is a refined version of irish moss.

[Capped]

Would there be any advantage (or otherwise) in chucking TWO protofloc tabs in? Just askin'...

[quiff]

I guess that would depend upon the brew length but for standard brews 1 protofloc tablet is more than enough in my (limited) experiance.
I used irish moss a couple of times before switching to protofloc and, personally, found it a revelation. The difference in the clarity of the wort was incredible

[Capped]

I used irish moss a couple of times before switching to protofloc and, personally, found it a revelation. The difference in the clarity of the wort was incredible

Y'know,I've heard similar said many times,but I've found IM when rehydrated is every bit as good as protofloc. I get star-bright beer with both - I think I now persist with protofloc simply because of it's perceived superiority and constantly being told that it's better than IM rather than my own experience - if that makes sense?!

[Hoodlum]

many thanks for the advice - I think the AG I did has a haze - not sure what's caused it.

It's sitting at roughly 10 deg C in the back room at the mo. Sparge may have been too hot? I had a ton of trub, I mean a ton of the stuff which had formed a nice thick cake over the top of the beer. There must have been a couple o kilo of the stuff. Pic to follow - could this cause a haze?

[Stonechat]

Would there be any advantage (or otherwise) in chucking TWO protofloc tabs in? Just askin'...

According to Mrs Hilary Kane (Quality Control Manager of Murphy & Son in 2007) the correct rate for Protafloc is 1-2 tablets per barrel.
Each tablet weighs 2 grams and 163 litres per barrel.
The variation is due to the strength of the wort and the nitrogen content of the malt.

This would equate to 0.31grams for a 25 litre batch.

Most homebrewers, myself included use a whole tablet, although in Yorkshire tablets are cut up to make them go further.

Hilary Kane says that an excess of copper finings would cause the protein to form a loose, fluffy sediment that would cloud up at the slightest disturbance. When using the correct amount after rapid cooling and a period of settling a firm compact sediment is formed which is not easily disturbed.

So, my answer to your question is do not chuck 2 tablets in. Carry on with the one, or half of a tablet if you can be bothered to cut it in half.

The above info was harvested from the September 2007 issue of Brewer's Contact.

[Dr. Dextrin]

I used Irish moss (about 3g per 5 gallons) for years with good results, always re-hydrating it first. Recently i tried Protafloc. Adding one tablet was obviously far too much - I ended up with loads of gunk in the FV and couldn't draw clear beer off via the tap because of the depth of the crud. So now I use 1/4 of a tablet and that seems about right. I can't say the results are any better than Irish moss really, though. The beer is beautifully clear, as always.

[quiff]

many thanks for the advice - I think the AG I did has a haze - not sure what's caused it.

How long is it since you brewed it?
If it has had long enough to carbonate, then I suggest moving it into a garage or shed where the temperature is much lower. You'll probably find that it will drop bright in a couple of weeks.

[stitch]

I used Irish moss (about 3g per 5 gallons) for years with good results, always re-hydrating it first.

Does chucking it in a big pot of boiling wort count as rehydrating? I just chuck dry Irish Moss in with the late hops. Generally my beer is clear, except for a spot of chill haze which I've not been worrying about. Would rehydrating Irish Moss cure that?

[Chunk1234]

Whats the difference in rehydrating in water and rehydrating by adding to the boil? Interested to know how it makes a difference because I've never done this. (Not saying it isnt important ... just genuinely interested).

I've been using Irish Moss recently because the LHBS had run out of Protafloc, I havent been rehydrating but I've only used it in dark beers so far, might start rehydrating in future.

[Chunk1234]

Irish moss works best in the boil over the last 10 or 15 mins or so, beyond that it can be come less effective of ineffective. By allowing it to gently rehydrate (for eg) at the start of the boil in warm water it will be fully rehydrated and can be added to the boil during the final 10 or 15 mins where it will have the best effect.

I think I'll start doing this from now on.

Thanks for the tip.