The Art & Science of Beer Clarity: A Guide to Finings

by Eric Drost December 09, 2025

Today’s drinkers taste with their eyes before anything else. While a tight head on a pint might be optional depending on where you’re enjoying your beer, one thing is universal clarity matters. Cask-conditioned beers are often compared to lagers and kegged products, so brewers must ensure their pints look as good as they taste. Achieving that brilliance involves using three key finings: copper finings, isinglass finings, and auxiliary finings or new natural innovations like Super F which are taking clarity and sustainability to the next level.

Isinglass Finings: The Classic Clarifier

Isinglass in products like Caskleer Paste, is produced from the swim bladders of certain fish, is a time-tested solution for dropping yeast out of beer. The active collagen protein carries a positive charge, attracting negatively charged yeast cells. The result? Flocs form and settle rapidly, clarifying the beer thanks to the pH-dependent colloidal solution at work. Isinglass is all about harnessing science for visually brilliant results.

Auxiliary Finings: Targeting Protein Hazes

Auxiliary finings, such as Finings Adjunct, play a crucial role in removing haze-causing proteins and improving beer filterability. These negatively charged agents (often based on silicates or polysaccharides) grab onto positively charged proteins, forming flocs that drop out and take haze with them. Using auxiliaries can mean faster fining, less isinglass needed, better shelf life, and protection against chill haze. The right auxiliary and regular optimisation make all the difference.

The Science of Speed: Bigger Flocs, Faster Fining

The magic behind finings is scientific: the bigger and denser the floc, the faster it settles (as per Stoke’s Law). Factors like malt quality, yeast strain, and even fermentation management all affect how well your finings work. For best results, add auxiliaries before isinglass, tweak your rates, and always use fresh, well-prepared finings. Over-fining or under-fining can both cause problems so regular checks are key.

Meet Super F: The Next Generation of Clarity

Modern brewing needs solutions that are fast, flexible, and sustainable. That’s where our new and improved Super F comes in. Vegan-friendly and highly concentrated, Super F increases clarification by 100% while slashing refrigeration costs by 80%, reducing tank residency by up to 2 days, and cutting water, energy, and cooling costs. Just 75–175 ml per hl achieves great clarity within 48 hours, even for heavily dry hopped beers (just remove most hop solids first). Super F works at 5°C, is stable at ambient temperatures, and suits bottles, kegs, cans, and casks. It’s also perfect for wine and cider, thanks to its smoothness and consistency, no filtration or centrifugation needed.

The Takeaway

Clarity is about more than looks it’s about quality, shelf life, and drinker appeal. With the right balance of isinglass, auxiliaries, or innovative finings like Super F, you’ll ensure your beer stands out for all the right reasons. Optimize regularly, get your rates right, and your pints will always shine.