kettle finnings

[iowalad]

When do you typically put your Irish Moss or Whirfloc in the boil?

I have only used IM and toss it in at 10 minutes. I was talking to brewer who claimed that he read an interview with an IM producer who stated that 5 minutes into the boil was optimum.

Plan on giving whirfloc a go at my next brew.

[Jim]

I put my Irish Moss in 15 minutes from the end of the boil (just because that's what I read you should do when I started using it).

[bitter_dave]

I put my Irish Moss in 15 minutes from the end of the boil (just because that's what I read you should do when I started using it).

ditto. Also I don't rehydrate it, as I gather some on the forum do.

[prodigal2]

I put my Irish Moss in 15 minutes from the end of the boil (just because that's what I read you should do when I started using it).

ditto. Also I don't rehydrate it, as I gather some on the forum do.

double ditto, though as yet I have not done enough brews to know if I'm doing well with IM

[J_P]

I have been following Daabs mini mash timings since turning to the "dark side" which seems to do the trick. I have experienced clearer beers adding a full 5g instead of just the tablespoon I've read about.

I am giving the whirlafloc tablets a erm.... whirl and they seem to be doing the business, I have ended up with serious amounts of trub and break but the brews always have a good clean head on them.

[mixbrewery]

I used whirlfloc for the first time in last weekends brew.
Couldn't see it working like Daab says cause my glasses just get steamed up over the copper!!

Final result after a 20min rest was very encouraging.
All the break that was trapped in the hop bed after draining off, excellent item.
Damned expensive though. Might buy in bulk.

[Vossy1]

Whirlfloc is just so much better than IM and even Protofloc, you can see it do it's job a few moments after adding it. It's all basically the same stuff though but put it in a tablet and it really does the trick, it would be interesting to hear why

It is basically the same stuff and I would also like to know why it has different properties

Whirlfloc is actually bought as protofloc tablets but renamed on resale...perhaps the fine grinding for tabulation causes some difference in active properties....but I'm not buying into it

I'd like to see some scientific evidence to the contrary

[Vossy1]

Try using Protofloc tablets then Vossy. I'm refering to Protofloc granules available to homebrewers.

Yep I knew you were. I was just commenting on the differing properties of the same stuff. I've tried both and they do have differing qualities...perhaps something is added to one or the other to aid in formulation the tablet or granule but I can't see it.

It'll have to remain a mystery....unless one of our resident boffins knows a little more

[iowalad]

The consensus over here seems to be that they are the same yet people like Denny Conn admit they still keep using the tablets. There is also Super Irish Moss as well

Will try the whirlfloc this weekend.

Thanks guys.

[iowalad]

Used whirlfloc twice now - once in my honey ale and once in a Scottish.

Both have turned out the clearest wort in my limited brewing experience.

I seem to be getting on better with it than I did with Irish Moss, I do wonder if I used as much Irish moss by weight as a tab of whirlfloc. May try the equivalent in Irish Moss in my next brew (sometime in Sept) and see.

Will report back once the beer has bottled and ready for drinking.

[johnmac]

I read that boiling Whirlfloc for more than 10 minutes will undo the good work. One tablet is enough for 10 gallons. Another thing the HBS doesn't tell you is that they should be stored in a cool place.

[iowalad]

I added the whirlfloc at around 7 minutes left to boil. I keep my whirlfloc in a drawer in the fridge so guess that qualifies as cool (I didn't realize they should be stored cool).