Beer filter tip

OK, every now and then, one of us needs to filter some beer. It's not because of a defect or a time crunch but some beer just looks really cool if it is polished and clear. Sometimes, you read something over and over and continue to ignore it until...........you know who you are. Last week-end, I started polishing a bunch of beer for a few upcoming events. This beer will be transported long distances and likely will be on it's side so having a bunch of stuff getting mixed up would not look pretty. Out came the old filter. Filtering beer is much like counterpressure bottling. Anyone can do it. Few enjoy it. Most have a horror story associated with filtering. Operating a filter for a bunch of hours can be a learning experience so here are a few filtering tips. 1. Clean up the equipment. I had a few gallons of star San left in the brew kettle and just tossed the filter stuff in the liquid. 2. Pad flavor. Filter pads have a flavor that is not real good. I trust my water supply and flush out the sanitizer and filter flavor with filter tap water. 3. Taste the outlet. If the water you are using to flush the filter tastes off, what will the beer taste like? Keep flushing until the water tastes normal. 4. Cold beer please. Crash cool your beer to freezing. It promotes chill haze which you are trying to remove. 5. Sans gas. Filter non-carbonated beer. It is amazing how quickly it goes through the filters. Honest! During the filtering of 20 gallons with one set of pads, I only lost a pint. 6. Filter high and tank low. Move your filter assembly a few feet above the supply. Keep your receiving keg at ground level. This seems to reduce the filter pad leakage. 7. Low pressure. Start with the minimum pressure possible. Usually 5-7 psi does the trick. I only turned the pressure up one time when the supply keg was almost empty. 8. Filter on a damp day. Moisture provides an accurate "level-meter" by condensing moisture at liquid level. 9. Outlet to outlet. Obviously the outlet goes to the filter but use an outlet fitting to fill the receiving keg to prevent o2 pickup. So there you have some filtering tips. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On another subject (and hidden at the bottom of This message to see if anyone reads This far) please stop over This Friday for the August club meeting. Meeting starts around 5:ish and goes until about 10:ish. Small BBQ with chicken, corn on the cob and anything anyone else decides to bring along. Kitchen and BBQ available. If you mess it up, clean it up. Jonathan and self will have the "low carb contest." We have both secretly been working on lo-carb lagers. Mine started at 1.042 and ended at 1.010. His started higher and ended lighter than water! You be the judge. Other beers that may be available include: Irish Red (a beer without a BJCP category) IIPA (another beer that exceeds a BJCP category) APA (standard boring American Pale Ale) Wheat (Wheat) Stout lite (don't ask - try) What else? Great question. Help determine future club events. This is an area where I can use some help. Planning on meeting at Barley Johns in September, Hops in October but those are tentative plans only. Share your opinions and thoughts. Still not enough you say? Well then on Saturday, you go to St.Paul to Curt Stocks house. Curt is having a very similar event one day later although Curt dedicated his entire basement to a brewery - I was only able to use a 10-13 room! Take care brewers. Hope to see you This Friday. Sincerely Rick Oftel MHBA P.S. If you don't know where I live, give me a call or send me a e-message.