Whirlpooling Not Really Working Very Well

[QldKev]

I think I must be doing something wrong with my kettle finings, either getting the dose wrong or (more likely) using out of date KoppaFloc. The below pics are of the aforementioned inaugural double batch. Not shown is the full kettle, post whirlpooling and chilling, which looked pretty clear (clouds of break were too submerged to see). I used 2 2400 W elements going full-pelt and chilled the 42 L of wort to 12C within an hour, so I am confident about both hot and cold break. Unfortunately I just can't get it to flocculate. Chucked a slurry of Polyclar PPVP into the whirlpool just for fun.

I threw the hop pellets in loose for this one, for no real reason but to see the effect of the whirlpool on them. As donburke suggested, I bypassed the chiller, but at the start of the whirlpool not the end, to encourage less hop material to go through it, adding it into the loop 10 mins after flameout. Its effect on flow is noticeable but not dramatic. After turning off the pump, the chilled wort was left to settle for about 25 mins.

After draining about half the wort:
<<pic snip>>

As before, all the break is evenly dispersed throughout the wort. It does seem to sink as it wasn't visible in the full volume of wort, just doesn't actually clump and properly fall out.

After draining all of it:
<<pic snip>>

Based on the hop cone, I'd say the whirlpool definitely works now. Maybe the angle of the nozzle is too acute, but I can fix that.

Pinning my hopes of BrewBrite for now, unless anyone has any other wisdom to contribute?

How are you going with your whirlpool? Have you tried Brewbrite? Have you tried leaving the lid on?

Here's mine from today's Munich Helles. This is in my 'Little Bro' system a 50L keggle. The photo I posted before was on my bigger 3V setup 'Big Bro' that's kettle is a 140L pot.





QldKev

 

[squirt in the turns]

How are you going with your whirlpool? Have you tried Brewbrite? Have you tried leaving the lid on?

Here's mine from today's Munich Helles. This is in my 'Little Bro' system a 50L keggle. The photo I posted before was on my bigger 3V setup 'Big Bro' that's kettle is a 140L pot.


View attachment 58251


QldKev

Kev, we don't need any more pictures of your perfectly formed cones

Haven't brewed since the double batch I pictured before. But I have picked up some Brewbrite and will hopefully get another batch down within the next week. The in-laws are staying for a few weeks and they're curious about the whole AG thing, so I'll be brewing a hefeweizen so that they can witness the process and be drinking the results before they leave. Not the best style to test beer clarification techniques, but hopefully any improvements to the trub cone will be evident.

 

[GuyQLD]

Hopefully this isn't moving off topic - For those who get really good whirlpools do you find that your hops make a difference? I generally use a hop sock and no chill so the only thing I'm looking at is hot break. Even then the best whirlpool I ever got was without using whirlfloc. Seems whenever I use whirlfloc I get fluffy break material and it just refuses to sit still.

Having another crack at Smurto's LandLord this weekend and was thinking about giving the hop sock the flick since I want to put the styrians in really really late (last time I brought them forward so I could use the sock..)

I know some people say that'll increase trub - but with whirlpools like Qkevs, not sure if it'd make much difference. In fact I'd probably get more out. Of failing that, should I just add the hops to the sock at flameout and let it sit for it's 15 minutes anyway? After that I could pull it out and whirlpool as normal.

Yes, no, bugger it just go and make beer?

 

[argon]

My 2c. Get yourself a false bottom for that kettle and never have to whirlpool again with crystal clear wort into cube/chiller with immediate draining of the kettle.