[Joe_Beer]

I have an extract kit (Souless IPA from Morebeer) I'm brewing this weekend and going through the different packages tonight. What is the Carrageenan tablet? Says something about clarifying. I have Whirlfloc tablets and assuming I wouldn't add those to the boil if using the Carrageenan?

[BrewBama]

Whirlfloc tablets are a blend of Irish Moss and purified Kappa carrageenan


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[Bob357]

The tablet you got with the kit is likely KICK carrageenan. Carrageenan is a salt water plant (seaweed), often called Irish Moss, and has been used in native Irish cooking for centuries. I've used minimally processed Carrageenan from Ireland, Whirlfloc and Kick tablets and haven't seen any difference in performance from one to the other. They all do a great job of encouraging proteins and hop debris to settle out in the kettle, allowing a clean transfer when used in conjunction with the proper late boil and post chilling process.

[Joe_Beer]

Great! Thank you both for "clarifying" things.

[goose]

I also learned something about Whirlfloc from Denny and others on this forum.  Add your Whirlfloc during the last five minutes of the boil (not the last 15 minutes as was previously believed).  Also 1 tablet is good enough for 10 gallons of beer.

[mabrungard]

Another thing about carrageenan is that it can complex with your other late additions too. Yeast nutrient and Brewtan B need to be added several minutes (maybe 5?)  away from this addition or the effectiveness of any of the additions can be affected. 

Also, did you know that the dose of carrageenan should be proportional to the wort gravity? That makes sense since the higher the gravity, the higher the concentrations of proteins and other content that may need to be precipitated.

[Joe_Beer]

Thanks for the info! I added the carrageenan and yeast nute (1/2 tsp) at T-10. Probably a minute apart as I didn't read this post this morning. We'll see how she goes. Maybe use 1/2 tablet (I'm brewing 5 gal batches) next time at T-5? I'll make a note to space them apart 5 mins.

[BrewBama]

FWIW: I like to add Brewtan at 16 minutes, immersion chiller at 15 minutes, Whirlflock at 5 min, and yeast nutrient in the fermenter after cooling the wort.


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[ynotbrusum]

I spoke with a knowledgeable source that said adding the Brewtan B at 16 minutes (rehydrated), followed by the whirlfloc at 14 and the yeast nutrient at 10 minutes are the suggested time frame.  There simply needs to be a couple minutes between the Brewtan B and the whirlfloc.

[erockrph]

I'm always learning useful info here. I had always added my whirlfloc, PVPP and nutrient all together at 10 minutes, and my gallotannin at flameout. Now I'll be moving to gallotannin > whirlfloc/PVPP > nutrient

[goose]

I used to add Yeast Nutrient and Whirlfloc at T-15 but changed it.  I add nutrient now at T-15 and Whirfloc at T-5.

Also an interesting comment of carrageenan amount being proportional to the wort gravity, Martin.  Do you have a calculation on how much to add?  I have heard from Denny and others that one WF tablet is good enough for 10 gallons and 1/2 tablet for five gallons (Denny mentioned that he got this from the manufacturer).  I need to do some more research on this but you input would be appreciated.  I realize that WF is a combination of carrageenan and Irish Moss.  Inquiring minds want to know.

[denny]

I used to add Yeast Nutrient and Whirlfloc at T-15 but changed it.  I add nutrient now at T-15 and Whirfloc at T-5.

Also an interesting comment of carrageenan amount being proportional to the wort gravity, Martin.  Do you have a calculation on how much to add?  I have heard from Denny and others that one WF tablet is good enough for 10 gallons and 1/2 tablet for five gallons (Denny mentioned that he got this from the manufacturer).  I need to do some more research on this but you input would be appreciated.  I realize that WF is a combination of carrageenan and Irish Moss.  Inquiring minds want to know.

I wonder if it's even a concern at our scale?

[Wilbur]

BSG has a nice summary from Ian Ward:

https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/Resources%5CCraftBrewing%5CPDFs%5CBrewing_Processes_and_Techniques/WortandBeerFiningManual.pdf

Powder - should be added to the kettle 5 minutes before cast
- must be slurried in cold water
- can be added to the kettle manually or pumped in
- can be added to the whirlpool at cast
Tablets - should be added to the kettle 5 minutes before cast
- can be added to the kettle manually or via a hopper
- can be added to the whirlpool at cast
Granules - should be added to the kettle 5 minutes (refined)
or 10 minutes (semi-refined) before casting
- can be added to the kettle manually or via a hopper

Dosage should be 40 ppm, or 1 tablet whirlfloc per 15.5 gallons of 1.040 wort. The quick takeaway I get from his writeup is too much will cause haze, and too little won't provide the clarity you want. There's a procedure on page 39 I'd like to try one of these days.

[mabrungard]

Also an interesting comment of carrageenan amount being proportional to the wort gravity, Martin.  Do you have a calculation on how much to add? 

I haven't researched it, but Murphy and Sons in the UK has it listed in a chart on their website.

[Wilbur]

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/j.2050-0416.1995.tb00860.x

Dale, C. J., et al. “Studies On The Molecular Basis Of Wort Clarification By Copper Fining Agents (Kappa Carrageenan).” Journal of the Institute of Brewing, vol. 101, no. 4, 1995, pp. 285–288., doi:10.1002/j.2050-0416.1995.tb00869.x.

Here's a paper that provides wort clarity based on fining rate, gravity, and pH.