Hey everyone. I’m finding I have a distinct flavor from the filter pads in my filtered beers when I use fresh pads. Any recommendations to fix this?
Flush the filter with plenty of water, until the papery taste or smell is not apparent in the water coming through. I combine this with purging the receiving keg of O2 – push the full keg of water through the filter.
(The papery taste can be from the filter, but also of course could be from or exacerbated by oxidation, hard to avoid in filtered beer. To address this, I give that flush water a healthy dose of metabisulfite to scavenge O2. )
EDIT Notice something that bothers me – you say “fresh pads.” You do realize that filter pads are single use, not able to be regenerated like the media in candle filters?
That depends on the type of filter.
Assuming “pads” refers to the standard DE-impregnated cellulose sheets for plate and frame. If there are regenerative options for these systems, I was unaware of them, and the complaint of filter taste suggests the cellulose pads are the culprit.
I agree it’s likely the pads, but the fact that it’s happening on first use makes me think it’s improper purging of the filter as you suggested.
I’ve only done complete turnover on relatively small P&Fs; with multi-plate designs the SOP (or at least my SOP) would be a high-pressure backflush and rotating replacement of the pads. Too expensive otherwise.
Mercifully, the brewery with the 120-plate switched to centrifuge shortly after I started. ;D
Yeah, the usual small filter heads for homebrewers (e.g Vintage Shop) can’t be backflushed or pressurized over 5-6psi, so pads are necessarily single use. But under $3 a pair it’s ok.