Kegging with Gelatin ... Short Dip Tube?

[EagleDude]

I don't filter at this point and generally have enough time to wait for my beers to settle in the keg before dispensing, so haven't needed to use much in the way of finings. When I do use low flocculant yeast, I sometimes think the use of finings or filtering would benefit the beers. Since I condition and carbonate in a corny, I was curious if the use of gelatin would necessitate cutting the dip tube. I would prefer to keep the dip tube long and be able to push out the sediment, but am unsure of how thick the gelatinized sediment would be and if clogging would be an issue. Any advise would be appreciated.

[spiderwrangler]

I used gelatin for the first time on the beer I bottled on Friday, so other's may chip in with more experienced voices, but it seemed to drop pretty hard and compact well on the bottom. I did in in my carboy, and the sediment level was not really noticeably chunkier or thicker than normal. A shorter dip tube may be in order, but you could also chill and gelatinize in a carboy, then transfer to keg if you don't want to take a hacksaw to your dip tube.

[DannyW]

I gealtine-fine at least half of my batches in cornies and have not cut any dip tubes. After it's had enough time to settle, just run a half-pint or so of cloudy mess before pouring, racking, filtering, whatever. The gelatine does not clog the tube or poppets or anything, and keeps the rest of the sediment pretty well stuck to the bottom of the keg so subsequent pours don't pull the junk that the first pour did.

[TastyMcD]

I've been using gelatin for the last six months instead of filtering. Due to a tight brewing schedule (okay, I procrastinate), I find myself needing samples of beers a few days after racking. I put a half length dip tube in one of the two cornies I rack to and pour the first half of that keg before putting in a full length tube. The second keg get's the "pour off a pint" treatment that everyone describes. The only exception is if I'm taking the beer somewhere, I rack into another keg.

Tasty

[andy77]

I've been fining with Gelatin for a couple of years now, and both work. I have some kegs with shortened (1inch) dip tubes and some full length. You can either pour out the first pint, or pull your pours from above the settled yeast. Both work fine. In either case, like Tasty said, I'm racking clear beer to a fresh keg first.

In fact, look for me in San Diego cuz I'm bringing down a fridge and with lots of those fresh kegs waiting just for you guys! WHoo!!!!!

[TastyMcD]

.............In fact, look for me in San Diego cuz I'm bringing down a fridge and with lots of those fresh kegs waiting just for you guys! WHoo!!!!!

Saweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[mthhurley]

I've kegged with gelatin for a couple years now and just dump the first pint or two, never touched the dip tube.

[daveotero]

I've started using gelatin before I keg. Ferment 10 to 14 days or whatever, crash to 32F over 24 hours, add gelatin and wait for 48 hours, and finally rack beautiful clear beer to keg and carb. The very little sediment remaining sticks nicely to the bottom of the keg and since you transfer cold you're ready to quick carb that shit immediately. Try it out.