Expert: Dave Nyce - 4/22/2010

Question
Hi Dave

I’m going to make my first brew form a Coopers Kit

My question... Can any homemade (kit) beer be made without the yeast sediment that’s left behind ?

If not how does one go by filtering and pasteurization the beer to get a clear body

Thanks
Philip Kloppers

Answer
When I first started making beer, I didn't like having so much sediment in the bottom of the bottle. I had a lot of previous experience with making wine, so I tried to reduce the beer sediment, and have had success. After the fermentation is mostly complete, I rack the beer (siphon off the wort into another carbuoy, being careful not to disturb the sediment). The fermentation often starts up again for a short time. I wait another week or so, and can then see the wort clearing further. Sometimes I can see a distinct level, above which the beer is absolutely clear. In that case, I wait until that level reaches the bottom, which can take two weeks. Then I bottle the beer.  There will always be a slight amount of sediment due to the fermentation in the bottle for carbonation, but most people can't even tell it's there because it is such a small amount.

But to remove even that small amount of sediment, you can bottle with CO2, instead of carbonation by in the bottle fermentation.

It is not recommended to filter the beer, because that affects taste, and is also very difficult to avoid introducing contaminants. You could pasteurize to handle contaminants, but it is very difficult to pasteurize without damaging the taste of the beer.

Hope this helps!

Dave