chanson16

Recipes 

I have had an IPA in the primary for over a week. Typically after a week the krausen has receded into the beer. I want to transfer to a secondary so I can dry hop. Should I wait for it to recede?

Could it be Star San foam holding it up? This was the first time I used Star San and there was quite a bit of foam when I transferred from my boil kettle. My fermenting temp is at the lower range for the yeast (62 degrees) so that may be the reason for the delay as well.

Ryush806

Recipes 

Leave it alone! For a least another week anyway. Them test the gravity, wait three days, then test again. If your two samples have the same gravity then its done fermenting and you can rack to secondary for dry hopping. If the gravity is still dropping then leave it alone until it stabilizes. If you rack to secondary while it is still fermenting then you'll end up with a lot of yeast that will strip your hop goodies and also blow off a lot of the aroma from dry hopping.

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Toy4Rick

Recipes 

Why not dry hop in the primary? Reduces the chance of any nasties getting in or adding O2 to the goods... Unless you are laggering leaving it in the primary shouldn't hurt anything

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Why bother

chanson16

Recipes 

I know a lot of brewers dont transfer but I have stayed in the primary before for the entire fermentation and I have never had as clear of beer compared to when I secondary. Maybe it is psychological but I seem to have better results when transferring to a secondary.

cluckk

Recipes 

It won't be the Star San. What yeast are you using? I have a 1.060 ESB fermenting right now with Wyeast 1335 and it has the most persistent Kraeusen I've seen. It's funny because I first thought it was going to be too weak because the smack pack barely puffed up. Fortunately I was making a starter so I had options by brew day. It took right off and has been chugging away beautifully.

chanson16

Recipes 

I am using wyeast 1272 american ale ii. It took off right away and was you going steady. I think it must be the temperature. It is under my stairs in my basement and it is fairly cool in there because it is not finished or heated.

cluckk

Recipes 

Lower temperature will definitely make the fermentation take longer.

chanson16

Recipes 

I wrapped my carboy in a blanket so hopefully that will help.

Xpertskir

Recipes 

Clear beer takes time wether you are using a primary or not. I'll bet my beers that I primary for 5 weeks are clearer than your beers that you secondary, it seems like you turn your beers over quickly.

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chanson16

Recipes 

That is probably true. I am typically 2 weeks (or a few days more) from brew day to bottle. My hydro readings are usually in line but a few more weeks would help it clear I am sure. I add gelatin at secondary which helps. I am just not patient enough to have finished beer sitting around.