Hello, I just got back from my local brew store to gather ingredients for my second brew. I am trying for an extract version of a stout but I forgot the finings. Is it worth it to go back and get them or do I even need it since it is such a dark brew anyway?
I never use any clarifying agent. I only cold crash and store cold for a few months before consumption. Irish moss is fine to use, but not necessary. Also, a long cold storage gives time for maturing the beer. Better tasting beer is the result.
I wouldn't bother using finings with a stout. A porter maybe, but stouts are supposed to be black and opaque to my reckoning.
To quote Mr. Papazian, relax, don't worry, have a homebrew. If your stout has some haze, first you'll never notice it in the beer's appearance and second, you'll never notice it in the beer's flavor. I use Irish moss quite a bit in most of my styles except wheats but if I forget and there's some haze, see Mr. Papazian.
