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Author Topic: Irish Moss Smell?  (Read 9425 times)

Offline bigchicken

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Irish Moss Smell?
« on: December 01, 2012, 11:56:16 am »
I'm getting ready to use this for the 1st time today and notice it smells a bit like a fish tank. Is that normal or did I pick up some that's extremely old? Sorry if this has been covered, I didn't have time to search.
TJ Cook

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Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2012, 12:17:16 pm »
Irish moss is actually algae. I've never smelled it, so I just found mine and stuck my nose in. It does smell like algae - which is similar to a fish tank (at least a fish tank with algae in it).
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Offline jamminbrew

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2012, 12:39:17 pm »
I use Irish moss all the time. I have never noticed the smell of the unused moss transferring into my beers. Don't worry about it.

I thought Irish moss was seaweed. not algae?
In caelo cerivisiae nil, hic igitur bibimus.

Offline bigchicken

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2012, 12:40:22 pm »
I forgot about it being algae. That's a huge help!
TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
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In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2012, 12:52:44 pm »
seaweed = algae
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Offline denny

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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2012, 01:07:54 pm »
it is both
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrus_crispus

<edited to add>
I should point out, "algae" is a scientific classification, "seaweed" is not.  Algae could be used imprecisely too of course.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2012, 01:19:52 pm by tschmidlin »
Tom Schmidlin

Offline denny

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2012, 01:33:26 pm »
it is both
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrus_crispus

<edited to add>
I should point out, "algae" is a scientific classification, "seaweed" is not.  Algae could be used imprecisely too of course.

Which is why I said "not necessarily" ;)
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline bigchicken

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2012, 01:54:35 pm »
Thanks for the quick posts! I will be adding it with no fears. 
TJ Cook

On Deck: Planning
Fermenting: Nothing
In bottles: It's All About MEAD!

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2012, 08:11:32 am »
I've never heard of that Algae/algae convention and <George Costanza voice> I am a marine biologist </GCv> who studied too much seaweed in college. But I wasn't quite correct since "=" is bi-directional.
 
Seaweed is algae, but algae is not always seaweed.
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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2012, 03:35:04 pm »
it is both
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrus_crispus

<edited to add>
I should point out, "algae" is a scientific classification, "seaweed" is not.  Algae could be used imprecisely too of course.

Which is why I said "not necessarily" ;)
Yup, just trying to give a little more info.  I think it is interesting that not all things people call algae are actually algae (ex. blue-green algae). :)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline micsager

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Re: Irish Moss Smell?
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2012, 11:34:31 am »
it is both
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrus_crispus

<edited to add>
I should point out, "algae" is a scientific classification, "seaweed" is not.  Algae could be used imprecisely too of course.

Which is why I said "not necessarily" ;)
Yup, just trying to give a little more info.  I think it is interesting that not all things people call algae are actually algae (ex. blue-green algae). :)

Well, some people actually call Budweiser, beer........