bentonite

[mrwaz]

Pardon the pun, but I need some clarification.

I've read in some of my homebrew books that bentonite is a good clarifying agent. Has any body out there tried it?

I'm also interested to know if there is such a thing as "food grade bentonite" I ask this question because I work fod an underground utilities company and we do directional boring. One of our main ingredients added to the mix to keep the hole from collapsing is Wyoming Bentonite. My boss is willing to give me a 60# bag provided I won't kill myself by using it if I shouldn't. I don't think it is toxic. After all, at trade shows, there are guys who mix this stuff up in a glass and drink it. any help would be much welcomed

[shughes600]

I have been told that bentonite is a very powerfull clarifying agent. I have never heard it recommended for beer. Vintners use it all the time.

[CJ01]

I bought a pale ale kit that had a bentonite packet.

Instructions: "Bentonite addition is necessary to lower the protein content of the wort to achieve the light, crisp character of the beer."

Wow talk about dredging up an old post, sorry. I was just wondering wth bentonite was.

[corkybstewart]

Bentonite is a clay mineral. I can't imagine putiing it in beer, we use it in oil wells to thicken drilling mud.
But that doesn't mean it can't be used in brewing, I've just never read about it before.

[CJ01]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
Bentonite is a clay mineral. I can't imagine putiing it in beer, we use it in oil wells to thicken drilling mud.
But that doesn't mean it can't be used in brewing, I've just never read about it before.

Yeah it makes me wonder about the quality of the kit I bought. Seems they are just trying to bandage the "one size fits all" extract they sell.

[BrewDog]

Interesting. Seems like you can probably use it either in addition to or in place of both irish moss (in the boil) and gelatin (cold conditioning).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentonite

Not that I'm gonna try it, but....

[Mad Scientist]

Well, the thread starter has not posted in a long time, so let's hope it did not kill him.

I could have told you most of that info on bentonite in the wiki article, as I have worked a large bentonite project in west Texas that puts Wyomings reserves to shame. There are also good quantities in Arkansas as well.

At any rate, just incase any of you have a bag of hole plug out there, it is not food grade, do not use it!