Ask The Brewmasters

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hello!

We've been having an issue of unwanted haze in cans that is not showing up on the same batches in kegs. When we initially run the beer through the centrifuge it looks perfectly fine, no unwanted haze. Any samples taken in our tap rooms from kegs look good over the entire shelf life of the beer. However, samples from cans slowly develop a "snowglobe" type haze within a few weeks of being packaged. We first noticed it in one of our IPAs, but now we are noticing it in other recipes as well. It's very strange looking particulate that doesn't fall out of solution at all, it just stays floating in the liquid. We have tried Clarex on some batches and have seen a reduction in the haze in cans, but it is also causing some fallout in some cans, which is also undesirable.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? It's hard to get a picture of it because it is really faint, but definitely noticeable if you hold a flashlight up to it. It also doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the beer at all, nor have we picked anything up in the lab.

This snowglobe effect is probably permanent chill haze, especially if it does not go away as the beer warms up. It is a product of temp fluctuations (from room or warm temperature to cold and back again) and the interaction between proteins and polyphenols in the beer. Both protein and polyphenols are higher in IPAs and especially hazy IPAs. Tweaking your recipe can help, as can changing your yeast variety. But, ideally, keeping beer cold as much as possible will help mitigate the issue.

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Daniel Neuner
QC Manager
Fiddlehead Brewing Company
danneuner@fiddleheadbrewing.com
6096705513
https://fiddleheadbrewing.com/
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2022 11:18
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Snowglobe haze is cans, not in kegs

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hello!

We've been having an issue of unwanted haze in cans that is not showing up on the same batches in kegs. When we initially run the beer through the centrifuge it looks perfectly fine, no unwanted haze. Any samples taken in our tap rooms from kegs look good over the entire shelf life of the beer. However, samples from cans slowly develop a "snowglobe" type haze within a few weeks of being packaged. We first noticed it in one of our IPAs, but now we are noticing it in other recipes as well. It's very strange looking particulate that doesn't fall out of solution at all, it just stays floating in the liquid. We have tried Clarex on some batches and have seen a reduction in the haze in cans, but it is also causing some fallout in some cans, which is also undesirable.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? It's hard to get a picture of it because it is really faint, but definitely noticeable if you hold a flashlight up to it. It also doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the beer at all, nor have we picked anything up in the lab.​

High protein content malt is what i'd look to, particularly the beta glucan content of your base malt, although that number is not always a *great* indicator as there is a difference between high and low molecular weight BG in terms of how it can affect your packaged product. Have you noticed any issues with lauterability  in terms of extract yield and  runoff time?

Optimizing Clarex dosage depends on hop rates and grist composition-- lots of hops? more clarex. lots of wheat? more clarex. Lots of hops and wheat? you guessed it.

You may also consider an enzyme that treats beta-glucans in the mash, especially if you've seen lautering issues.

------------------------------
Roger Herpst
Brewmaster
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2022 11:18
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Snowglobe haze is cans, not in kegs

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hello!

We've been having an issue of unwanted haze in cans that is not showing up on the same batches in kegs. When we initially run the beer through the centrifuge it looks perfectly fine, no unwanted haze. Any samples taken in our tap rooms from kegs look good over the entire shelf life of the beer. However, samples from cans slowly develop a "snowglobe" type haze within a few weeks of being packaged. We first noticed it in one of our IPAs, but now we are noticing it in other recipes as well. It's very strange looking particulate that doesn't fall out of solution at all, it just stays floating in the liquid. We have tried Clarex on some batches and have seen a reduction in the haze in cans, but it is also causing some fallout in some cans, which is also undesirable.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? It's hard to get a picture of it because it is really faint, but definitely noticeable if you hold a flashlight up to it. It also doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the beer at all, nor have we picked anything up in the lab.

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

For the record beta gluten is carbohydrate base not a protein
Original Message:
Sent: 08-31-2022 19:28
From: Roger Herpst
Subject: Snowglobe haze is cans, not in kegs

High protein content malt is what i'd look to, particularly the beta glucan content of your base malt, although that number is not always a *great* indicator as there is a difference between high and low molecular weight BG in terms of how it can affect your packaged product. Have you noticed any issues with lauterability  in terms of extract yield and  runoff time?

Optimizing Clarex dosage depends on hop rates and grist composition-- lots of hops? more clarex. lots of wheat? more clarex. Lots of hops and wheat? you guessed it.

You may also consider an enzyme that treats beta-glucans in the mash, especially if you've seen lautering issues.

------------------------------
Roger Herpst
Brewmaster
Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2022 11:18
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Snowglobe haze is cans, not in kegs

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hello!

We've been having an issue of unwanted haze in cans that is not showing up on the same batches in kegs. When we initially run the beer through the centrifuge it looks perfectly fine, no unwanted haze. Any samples taken in our tap rooms from kegs look good over the entire shelf life of the beer. However, samples from cans slowly develop a "snowglobe" type haze within a few weeks of being packaged. We first noticed it in one of our IPAs, but now we are noticing it in other recipes as well. It's very strange looking particulate that doesn't fall out of solution at all, it just stays floating in the liquid. We have tried Clarex on some batches and have seen a reduction in the haze in cans, but it is also causing some fallout in some cans, which is also undesirable.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? It's hard to get a picture of it because it is really faint, but definitely noticeable if you hold a flashlight up to it. It also doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the beer at all, nor have we picked anything up in the lab.