62
STRAINING THE CLARIFICATION AGENT
The WilliamsWarn clarification agent can form crystals in the
bottle over time. It is important to strain it as it is poured into
the clarification pot. This will ensure no crystals pass through
the one-way valve under the clarification pot. The crystals can
stop the one-way valve from closing and cause beer to flow back
up into the pot.
It is a good principle to strain any liquid or agents that are
added to the pot (e.g. flavours that are
dosed
into a beverage
after fermentation). Water used for rinsing can be added without
being strained.
THE METHOD FOR BEGINNERS
The method we have described in the main instructions is for
well carbonated beverages and first-time users. We ferment at
a higher level of carbonation than we will want in the final beer
(since the yeast is making excess carbon dioxide for free) and
then release pressure out of the vessel by depressing the button
on the VPRV to have the vessel at 0.5 bar lower pressure than
the gas cylinder. We then open the 3-way valve and the pressure
differential forces the clarification agent in the pot into the
beverage. We mix for 10 seconds. We then rinse the pot and
force that into the beverage to clear the line and wait 1 day.
We repeat this again and wait 1 ½ days before removing the
sediment bottle and then consuming the beverage.
Once you have experienced creating this pressure differential
and have heard what we term as “vigorous bubbling” and
successfully cleared beers, you may like to try the method
described below for experienced brewers.
THE METHOD FOR EXPERIENCED BREWERS
In this method you do not rely on setting an exact pressure
differential before opening the 3-way valve but rather open the
3-way valve first and then release gas out of the vessel quickly
to create the pressure differential.
Once the pressure differential is made, the mixing will begin.
What you then control to is the vigorous bubbling sound in
the tank rather than an exact pressure differential. For that
reason we suggest it for experienced brewers who know what
is expected. The term “vigorous” is subjective and different
people will have a different idea of what vigorous bubbling is.
However once it is experienced by a set pressure differential,
this bubbling sound, rather than the pressure differential, can
be used to control clarification for those who would like to.
In this method, when the beverage in the tank is for example at
1.25-1.5 bar after cooling and the gas cylinder at 1.25 bar (the
settings recommended in the main instructions for first-time
brewers) you put the agent in the pot and then turn the 3-way
to the pot. No agent will mix into the beer yet as the pressure of
the tank is still higher than the gas cylinder.
Then, to mix the agent in, you simply de-press the button on the
VPRV to release gas out of the tank. You can either watch the
tank pressure gauge reduce or you can perform this “blind” and
rely on the sound of the mixing.
If you prefer to watch the vessel pressure gauge, de-press the
VPRV release button and achieve a reduction in pressure 0.5
lower than that of the gas cylinder. In this case you’d reduce the
tank to 0.75 bar. As soon as enough differential is made, you
will hear the mixing begin because the 3-way is already open.
However it is possible to perform this without really knowing
what the pressure in the cylinder or the vessel actually are. In
this “blind” method, you will reply on you sense of hearing and
touch. You simply release pressure in the tank until you hear
bubbling that is required to get the mixing you know is adequate
to get a good clarification. You can also place your hand on the
vessel lid to feel the bubbling to ensure it is vigorous.
If the initial mixing doesn’t sound vigorous enough, you just
release more pressure until the bubbling is vigorous and count
the 10 seconds.
This can work well for experienced brewers but you will in
essence be creating a slightly different pressure differential
each time. This is okay as any differential over 0.25 bar or
thereabouts will create enough mixing.
However for beginners we need to ensure all first-time users
are creating the identical pressure differential each time until
it is learnt what bubbling amount is required. Therefore in the
main instructions we first create a set differential and then turn
the 3-way only after that is set. This method is the other way
around in that the 3-way is first opened and then the pressure
differential is created.
But like most of the steps in our instructions, there are always
alternative methods that can be used and you are welcome to try
any method that results in a clear beverage.
Fig. 67
