A premix composition for clarifying beverages like beer includes, by weight, (a) about 40 to 90%, preferably 60–85%, of silica xerogel having less than 10% water therein, preferably 5% or less, and a particle size, as defined by its mean
volume average diameter MV, in both the dry state and as a 10% aqueous
slurry, of less than 50μ, preferably about 5–30μ, and (b) about 10 to 60%, preferably 15–40%, of crosslinked
polyvinylpyrrolidone having a particle size as defined, in the dry state, of about 10 to 50μ, and about 30–60μ in a 10% aqueous
slurry, and a process of obtaining, chill-
haze stabilized beer with substantial reduction in high molecular weight proteins, as well as polyphenols, flavanoids and tannins, in an efficient and effective single-step process at a rapid filter-flow rate, with undetectable residual soluble plyvinylpyrrolidone thereafter, and no
microbiological growth in the premix, effective
haze stability after time, and advantageous redispersibility of the premix used in the process.