Does Cold Crashing or Gelatin Count Towards Fermentation Time?

jalgayer · 03-22-2010, 01:54 AM

Hey All-

If I am brewing and say it calls for a 5 week fermentation in a primary and I want to add gelatin and cold crash:

If I add the gelatin after 4 weeks... let it sit for 2-3 days... then cold crash for 3-4 days... and then bottle (5 weeks have elapsed)

Does this work? Does the time with gelatin and cold crashing count?

Or should I wait the full 5 weeks then start the gelatin/cold crash process?

JVD · 03-22-2010, 02:05 AM

I wait for the fermentation & conditoning to be complete before using gelatin because it pulls so much yeast out of suspension that I think it conditions slower after adding gelatin.Just my opinion though!

**david_42** · 03-22-2010, 02:52 AM

Yes, that schedule will work. Of the 5 weeks, the first two will probably see the end of fermentation process. The rest is for clearing and cleanup.

jalgayer · 03-22-2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_42

Yes, that schedule will work. Of the 5 weeks, the first two will probably see the end of fermentation process. The rest is for clearing and cleanup.

That is what I was thinking.

So if I have a beer that ferments for less time (say 1week primary and 1 week secondary (yes I have a recipe that calls for just that) I should probably wait the full two weeks before I start the gelatin-->cold crash combo?

**bullinachinashop** · 03-22-2010, 11:39 AM

I wouldn't add gelitin or cold crash any beer before 2 weeks. Give it the time it needs. You'll be happy you did. It's easier after you have a pipeline in place

Bull

Wellshooter · 03-22-2010, 02:05 PM

Yeast don't have calendars or watches, your beer is finished when it reaches FG not when X weeks have passed.

RichBenn · 03-22-2010, 03:44 PM

All good responses here. When a recipe starts getting into "days in primary", "transfer into secondary after X weeks", it's not really part of the recipe. It's more the brewing practice of the person who wrote the recipe.

Depending upon how clean the ferment was, what temperature, how much trub, the water chemistry, how healthy the yeast, what kind of yeast, how well the wort was aerated and how high the O.G. was, it can take different periods of time for the ferment to finish. Leaving it in longer can "clean up" the beer, as already mentioned.

There is a practical way to determine when the ferment is over - the hydrometer. But there is no practical way(AFAIK) to determine exactly how long one should let it rest after that. A couple of weeks or so, I'd guess, for most regular gravity beers. More for most higher gravity beers.

I think it is safe to say, however, that most beginners try and get it out too soon.

As for the cold crashing counting, I think the cleanup is faster at higher temps. I don't know enough about the cleanup phase to know how gelatin fining affects it. I'd say don't worry about it if you had a good, healthy ferment. If slow, you may want to wait. I have a Pale that was a little slow fermenting, and it's tough to wait longer, especially since my kegs are empty, but I will.....

Rich

jalgayer · 03-22-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullinachinashop

I wouldn't add gelitin or cold crash any beer before 2 weeks. Give it the time it needs. You'll be happy you did. It's easier after you have a pipeline in place

Bull

I wasnt try to short cut. And I wouldnt do this at 2 weeks. So looking to see if it counts... Whether its the 4th week or the 4th month

jalgayer · 03-22-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichBenn

All good responses here. When a recipe starts getting into "days in primary", "transfer into secondary after X weeks", it's not really part of the recipe. It's more the brewing practice of the person who wrote the recipe.

Depending upon how clean the ferment was, what temperature, how much trub, the water chemistry, how healthy the yeast, what kind of yeast, how well the wort was aerated and how high the O.G. was, it can take different periods of time for the ferment to finish. Leaving it in longer can "clean up" the beer, as already mentioned.

There is a practical way to determine when the ferment is over - the hydrometer. But there is no practical way(AFAIK) to determine exactly how long one should let it rest after that. A couple of weeks or so, I'd guess, for most regular gravity beers. More for most higher gravity beers.

I think it is safe to say, however, that most beginners try and get it out too soon.

As for the cold crashing counting, I think the cleanup is faster at higher temps. I don't know enough about the cleanup phase to know how gelatin fining affects it. I'd say don't worry about it if you had a good, healthy ferment. If slow, you may want to wait. I have a Pale that was a little slow fermenting, and it's tough to wait longer, especially since my kegs are empty, but I will.....

Rich

Thanks for that! Again, I am not looking to shorten the wait. But also to not lengthen it unnecessarily.

Basically, one my primary fermentation is done (be it 6 days or 10 days or whatever) and my hydro readings are steady at or near my target... Then I either transfer to secondary OR leave in primary for the conditioning.

Depending on the beer, as you said... I could look to do this for 2 weeks... or 2 months (which is actually 2 of the timeframes that I am involved with right now)

I am just looking for WHEN to gelatin / cold crash. After the full 2 weeks (or months) or with 1 week left in the process.

Thanks