I have an issue with chill haze. I did almost the same recipe last year with no problem (different hop schedule though). I actually tried harder this year NOT to get chill haze and did anyway. Extract recipe, partial boil both times.
No Haze Batch: Didn't pay attention to hot break, good cold break, no kettle finings, no steeping grains, "finishing hops" boiled for 5 minutes. 1 oz hops boiled for 60 min, 2 oz for 5 min. All extract boiled for 60 minutes.
Chill Haze Batch: Got a great hot break, fast cold break, used Whirlfloc, 8oz Caramel 40L steeping grains, "finishing hops" added at flameout. 1/2 oz hops boiled for 60 min, 1 oz for 15 min, 1.5 oz at flameout. Late extract addition - 4 lbs added with 15 minutes left in boil.
So, which of the variables is most likely to have made the difference? Late addition of DME? Not boiling the "finishing hops"? The use of steeping grains?
I was most surprised that the Whirlfloc and good hot break batch is the one with the chill haze problem. It looked great in the hydrometer test jar and looks great in bottles still conditioning at room temperature. But the portion in the keg is still hazy after a week. I think a couple more weeks may clear it up too, I'm just curious which of those variables may have caused this.
No Haze Batch: Didn't pay attention to hot break, good cold break, no kettle finings, no steeping grains, "finishing hops" boiled for 5 minutes. 1 oz hops boiled for 60 min, 2 oz for 5 min. All extract boiled for 60 minutes.
Chill Haze Batch: Got a great hot break, fast cold break, used Whirlfloc, 8oz Caramel 40L steeping grains, "finishing hops" added at flameout. 1/2 oz hops boiled for 60 min, 1 oz for 15 min, 1.5 oz at flameout. Late extract addition - 4 lbs added with 15 minutes left in boil.
So, which of the variables is most likely to have made the difference? Late addition of DME? Not boiling the "finishing hops"? The use of steeping grains?
I was most surprised that the Whirlfloc and good hot break batch is the one with the chill haze problem. It looked great in the hydrometer test jar and looks great in bottles still conditioning at room temperature. But the portion in the keg is still hazy after a week. I think a couple more weeks may clear it up too, I'm just curious which of those variables may have caused this.