I have a plate filter. Is there any special consideration when filtering a low flocculant yeast? Do I need to use a finer filter than the “rough” pads, which I believe go to about 7 microns, which is the size of yeast if I’m not mistaken.
The yeast in particular that I’m having issues with is WY1007/WLP036 German Ale yeast… for an Alt Bier. I tried filtering it using a rough pad and nothing happened. I could have messed something up, but the thought occurred to me that it could be this particular yeast.
Right, I’ve read that much, but I’ve had plenty of luck and VERY clear beer with several yeasts when using only the rough filter pad… But none that are as not-flocculant as the german ale yeast. I’ve had it in the keg in the fridge for a week now and it’s still pouring mud water. Makes me think that since they basically don’t clump together, they’re passing right through the filter.
The yeast flocculation can certainly have something to do with it. One thing I would suggest is crashing it primary rather than keg. I don’t have this filter (have canister filter) but perhaps what is floccing out in keg is being pushed back through after being piked back up.
Filters also come in absolute and nominal. Absolute is exact icron size. Nominal is not. Maybe your filter is closer to 7 rather than 2. IMO that is a huge range!
Next time I would suggest crashing it in fermenter, running it through the medium filter and finishing with the fine filter.
Thanks for the advice! I did crash in the fermenter, but this yeast is so not flocculant that it didn’t make much a difference. I am going to pick up a few medium and fine filters for future use, but I’m also learning to avoid yeasts that aren’t even a little bit flocculant. THey are just a PITA.
The beer tastes fine, so it’s not an infection. Well, it tastes fine enough given how yeasty it is.
Yeah, just read up on it on wyeast and it used the term low flocculation and powdery… That sounds like one that will not settle out without extended lagering.
If you use it again myabe try hitting it with gelatin after cold crashing and then filtering. Might help.
I thought about this as well. I normally use gelatin when I don’t filter, but I do not bother with the gelatin when I am planning on filtering. But maybe the gelatin will make filtering easier? Doesn’t it work by clinging to the yeast, thus making it heavier, so it falls down faster? If it’s clinging to the yeast, the yeast will be larger and thus easier to filter.
Correct, gelatin bonds to the yeast and other particles, causes them to clump together, and flocculate.
By doing this in the fermenter you could possibly get most to drop out and then hopefully the filter would remove the rest.
Another thing I forgot to mention. Make sure you don’t apply too much pressure when filtering or it will just push the yeast through the pad. Go low and slow!
