Beer Forum

I have this in-law, who happens to be a brewmaster and own a microbrewery, who also happens to have been a guest on the sunday show. Anyway, he was at my place the other day, we were drinking beer (surprise). I had him sample my 1st batch of IPA to my credit, and we got to talking about clarity. Long story short, he said "Don't be afraid to use Irish Moss". I replied that I do use it. I rehydrate it in a glass a good hour before I add it to the boil at 20 minutes before the end. He told me to use more than the recipe calls for, really, use at least twice as much is what he says.

He makes really good beer, so I am inclined to take his advice. On the other hand, throughout our conversation, he said a few things that I would dissagree with.

What are the opions on using 2 or more tsp for a five gallon batch?

In my opine the worst you are going to do is waste some Irish Moss... So Be It!
BUB

Why not keep it simple and throw a Whirlfloc tablet in there instead? That way you'll know you have the right amount for up to 25 gallons, and you don't have to remember to rehydrate.

DannyW wrote:Why not keep it simple and throw a Whirlfloc tablet in there instead? That way you'll know you have the right amount for up to 25 gallons, and you don't have to remember to rehydrate.

I guess I should have seen that coming.

Anyway, I really don't mind hydrating Irish Moss. It's a part of my ritual. I measure all of my water treatments, hop additions etc, etc... and set them up on my cutting board. Sounds a little OCD, but I think 90% of us here are a little OCD, it's what makes good (sanitary) beer. Additionally, using Whirlfloc instead Irish Moss doesn't satisfy the need to know the answer to my question.

Think of it this way, if I was using Whirlfloc, I'd be asking what would happen if I used twice as much.

I "read somewhere" that if you use to much moss you could start to pull out proteins and dextrins that you want to keep in your beer to give it body. So if you use to much you could end up with a thin beer.

The only way to really know would be to do the same brew twice and try it normal and then double up.

Travis

I brewed an ESB with a friend once and I told him to add the Irish Moss and he ended up adding the whole packet, which was like 5 grams or something like that. The finished beer was really missing something. I don't know if it was the recipe or the process but I think it may have stripped out some important stuff.

Another question...do you really need to be rehydrating the moss prior to throwing it in the boil?

On the Whirlfloc, didn't someone find out that it's only recomended at 5 or 10 minutes before the end of the boil? (I just got some Whirlfloc, curious to see what it does)

Yes, supposedly much before 10 min it will start to denature or something (become less effective, anyway).

I think the same is true for I.M.