Preservatives in gelatine.

bolwell · Post by **bolwell** » Tuesday Oct 02, 2007 10:57 pm

I've read several posts here that say preservatives will kill your yeast. I've also read here that gelatine is OK to use as a finning agent. I dosed two brews with gelatine a few days ago and they are still burping along happily.
Just checked the label on the gelatine and listed is preservative 220. What's the go?

wildschwein · Post by **wildschwein** » Tuesday Oct 02, 2007 11:05 pm

I was worried about this too for a while. Apparently, there isn't enough 220 preservative present in the gelatine to have any effect on the yeast. I can vouch for it as I have used the household brand gelatine as finings and have encountered no problems. The beer still carbonated after bottling and continued to ferment after I added it.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 8:17 am

220 is in wine isn't it? I also heard recently that it is doing nasty stuff to people.

Sorry about the hijack bolwell, but I am assuming that your question was answered.

KEG · Post by **KEG** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 8:42 am

Preservative 220 is sulphur dioxide.. there's some reports around about asthmatics having reactions to it.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 9:06 am

Makes sense.

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 9:35 am

So... if none of my yeast have asthma it would be cool to use gelatine? Probably best to not use it in the smoked ales

I never did understand why a clear beer was so important, not that I have made many cloudy brews, but it never really bothered me.

I guess it is the old fear of HB being a thick vegemite tasting sharply alcoholic sludge

regan · Post by **regan** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 2:50 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxide#_note-3
http://www.morethanorganic.com/sulphur-in-the-bottle

i would not by choice add any 220 in any of my food unless absolutly nessasary, and having clear beer is not that important to me.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 7:45 pm

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Oct 03, 2007 10:19 pm

An additional preservative in conjuction with hops. And all those people who say that HB is better because there is no preservatives.

Beer Freak · Post by **Beer Freak** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 1:15 am

Yeah well I just used 15grams in 23 litres in my first brew.Mainly coz I want to drink em out the bottles and I happened to have some lyin around in the cupboard.Lucky Im not asthmatic and I just read the thread now.

scanman · Post by **scanman** » Thursday Nov 01, 2007 7:48 am

I have used finings twice now, but don't see the point. Give your beer a bit of cold conditioning in a fridge before bottling and it comes out just as clear without adding anything at all.