14 replies to this topic

[Poptop]

Hey Fellas, a little late in the process, but I was wondering if I can still add gel to the keg after it has been carbonating for a couple days? Cut off gas, de-pressurize, add gel??

[positiveContact]

why depressurize?

[neddles]

Yes. Just pull the PRV if that is what you mean by depressurization. Then crack the lid. (I like to have some CO2 running while the lid is open) Then add your gel.

Edited by neddles, 07 September 2016 - 01:39 PM.

[Poptop]

Thanks. I was wondering if the carbonation would dissipate the gel and not let it settle. Thoughts?

[Big Nake]

Thanks. I was wondering if the carbonation would dissipate the gel and not let it settle. Thoughts?

No worries. I typically chill overnight, then add gel solution and then immediately start carbing. But I have had gelled beers end up on the hazy side so even though they're carbed, I may gel them again. All good.

[Bklmt2000]

Thanks. I was wondering if the carbonation would dissipate the gel and not let it settle. Thoughts?

 

Unlikely; once you get the gel into the keg, put the lid back on, and reattach the gas, the gel should settle out just fine.

 

I assume you're already planning on waiting a few days anyway to let the gel do its work before re-tapping said keg, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Poptop]

Slick and quick responses Guys, thanks.

[positiveContact]

sorry - I was thinking decarb instead of depressurize

[Poptop]

Gel'ed about 6pm yesterday. Should be good about 6pm tonight to see the results?

[Big Nake]

Gel'ed about 6pm yesterday. Should be good about 6pm tonight to see the results?

Are you going to wait until it's clear(ish) to start carbing it? Gel seems to work in about 1-2 days when the beer is warm... I used to do that in a Better Bottle so I could see the results but it was at room temp. Colder temps may change that. I rack to purged keg, chill overnight, gel and immediately carb but then the keg sits until I have an open faucet which may be a week or 6 weeks. I pull off a pint or two of sludge and then things are either 'clear' or 'close enough to clear'. Good luck.

[neddles]

Generally 24hrs. has been sufficient to get clear beer. You'll push out a pint or two of sludge like Ken said but then clear beer will follow. Gelatin works better when the beer is cold.

[Big Nake]

A loosely-related tangent: I was short on beer for awhile and finally caught up. But many of the beers I made in the process were pushed along at a quicker pace. That's fine for the hoppier styles but some lagers went from grain to glass in less than a month and even though they were gelled cold, they're still a little hazy. I had some people over on Labor Day and I had just put an amber lager (made with S-189) on tap that morning. I tried a few around 1pm after dumping pint #1 and it looked like it was getting clearer. My FIL said "I'll have what you're having" so we were both drinking it for about 4 hours and it never did get as clear as I'd like. I little longer at the cold temps will probably help with that... if it's not GONE by then.

[Poptop]

The beer was cold and also carbing at 25psi. Of course I pulled a pint out of it to taste de-pressurized the keg, popped the lid and poured in the gel. Replace the lid, brought the carb back to 25psi for another day.

I should be good no??

[Big Nake]

The beer was cold and also carbing at 25psi. Of course I pulled a pint out of it to taste de-pressurized the keg, popped the lid and poured in the gel. Replace the lid, brought the carb back to 25psi for another day.

I should be good no??

You should be good. Here's wishing you some clear beer.

[Poptop]

Thank you kindly.