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How often do you need to rack? How often do you need to rack?
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Old 02-08-2010, 02:53 PM   #1
Shawn Hargreaves
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Default How often do you need to rack?
I'm a fairly experienced beer brewer, currently attempting my first batch of mead, and am wondering how long I can reasonably leave the mead without racking?

Where I'm at:

- Racked to a second carboy after ~1 month
- After two months, gravity was at 1.022
- Yesterday, three months in, gravity is at 1.016
- Fermentation is clearly not done yet, so I must wait longer
- The carboy has an inch of yeast sediment at the bottom

Is this reasonable to just wait, or should I rack again to get it off the sediment?

Thanks!
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Old 02-08-2010, 05:18 PM   #2
badmajon
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I'd also like to know. What is the point of racking anyway, just to keep a cleaner container?
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Old 02-08-2010, 05:21 PM   #3
AZ_IPA
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I'd wait until you get to FG before racking again.

with my meads, I like to rack with it gets to FG and then rack again if the lees builds up to more than 1/4".

badmajon - yes, racking is needed to help make sure you get a clear mead, plus if you bulk age (sometimes for many, many months or even a year), you want to get as much of the lees out to avoid any potential autolysis issues.
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Old 02-08-2010, 05:30 PM   #4
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I usually rack about 2-3 times. once after primary because I do that in a bucket to more easily do my SNAs and degass. Then once again when the mead is cleared and lastly to a keg for bulk aging when I am happy with how it is tasting/fermented
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Old 02-08-2010, 05:39 PM   #5
badmajon
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Is the lees that stuff on the bottom of the carboy?
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Old 02-08-2010, 05:46 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badmajon View Post
Is the lees that stuff on the bottom of the carboy?
Yes that is what he is referring to
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