Irish Moss and Other Additives

[Shooter]

This may be a dumb question, but I have brewed four batches of beer and have used Irish Moss in two of them. I have been very satisfied with the clarity and general look of my beer as a result.

My question is whether I should use Irish Moss in my porters and stouts? I also had one recipe calling for gelatin in the secondary fermenter. Are these additives that I can and should use for all my brews?

Thanks. . . . .

[paul84043]

Irish Moss is used for clarity only, it imparts no flavors or other characteristics....
I wouldn't bother on stouts and porters, they are so dark, you'd never know the difference.

[shughes600]

Gelatin is a mild clarifying agent. It and isnglass are commonly added to the secondary. Brewers gelatin I used reccomended soaking for 1 hour in water, then boiling, then cooling and adding to secondary.

[S.F.B.]

I wouldn't bother with it on the darker beers.