What Is Cider Brite?
Cider Brite finings are a very powerful form of dry isinglass finings. Isinglass is one of the most effective fining agents available. The main problem with isinglass is that it needs to be kept constantly cool otherwise the product denatures and will not work. To overcome this, we have freeze-dried the isinglass at the point of making it up. Being a freeze-dried product, it can be stored at virtually any temperature without it losing any of its characteristics. Also, the free-drying extends the life of the finings considerably.
Why You Need It.
Although ciders will eventually clear by themselves, sometimes this could be many months. Finings have a dual benefit when you add them to your cider. First, they attach to the haze and make it heavier, so it starts to settle quicker. As this is happening, the finings keeps absorbing the proteins that make up the haze, constantly getting bigger and heavier so it clears quickly.
Second, when the haze has fallen to a sediment, the finings starts to compact it, making less wastage. The sediment in its compact form is not so easily disturbed, so there is less chance of cloudy cider when pouring from a bottle.
Instructions
Add two level teaspoons of powder into half a cup of cold water. Whisk with a fork for 1 minute to thoroughly mix. Leave for 15 minutes, then whisk again before adding to 5 gallons (23L) of cider at the end of fermentation. This has the benefit of producing the finings with 100% activity, so you are using a more powerful and stronger fining. This results in clear cider quickly with more compact sediment.
When liquid isinglass is manufactured, it starts to deteriorate. The longer it is kept, the less fining properties are left in the product. As the Cider Clear was freeze-dried when it was made up, and then you are adding the water later on, you are using the full 100% fining properties.
What Quantity Of Cider Will It Treat?
Cider Clear is available in a 3 dose pot to treat up to three 5 gallon brews (22.5 litres).
