Is it ok to gently shake the carboy?

NikolausXX · 11-04-2008, 02:55 AM

I am making a cream of 3 crops cream ale. I used safe ale 05 yeast. I had very thick crausen. I have VERY thick yeast/crausin at top of beer after 1.5 weeks. I noticed if I gently shake, careful not to aireate the wort, some will drop. I plan on a 2 week primary, and 1 week or more if needed secondary, but want to knock the stuff on top to the bottom. Is it ok to gently shake the carboy to drop the thick layer of junk at the top? As it sits now, it would be very tough to rack without siphoning a bunch of junk through. I have plenty of patience, but I need to rack by sunday, as primary will be needed for next batch. It seems after a careful shake, some of the junk will fall out.

lapaglia · 11-04-2008, 02:57 AM

Yes, if its an active fermentation there is no O2 in there. Only CO2. You will be fine.

**ChshreCat** · 11-04-2008, 02:58 AM

It'll fall on it's own. Don't worry. Knocking it down won't make it finish any faster. It won't hurt a bit if you siphon some of the krausen into the secondary (if you really HAVE to rack before it falls).

Any shaking that's hard enough to knock krausen down is going to stir up the stuff in the bottom that you want to leave behind when you rack.

NikolausXX · 11-04-2008, 03:00 AM

I was planning on shaking gently once or twice per day till like thursday, then just let it sit until sunday, then rack, while im mashing and boiling.

Note: VERY active fermentation, completed, its been sitting there with minimal activity for days.

Im not talking about the crausin dried to side of carboy, I have 1/2 inch layer of junk at top. Gently shaking over last few days has knocked alot down. Have not been woried too much about clarity in primary, as I use secondary on all my beers, and usually 1-2 weeks.

brownsbrew · 11-04-2008, 03:11 AM

The Kraeusen will settle on its own. In fact, that is one of the ways to tell how far along in the fermentation process the beer is in. It's not gospel but typically, the less Kraeusen on top of the beer the closer it is to being ready to rack to your secondary (always confirm with a hydro reading).

carnevoodoo · 11-04-2008, 03:18 AM

Why do people ask questions about things they're going to do anyway?

NikolausXX · 11-04-2008, 03:25 AM

Because im wondering if its ok. I am SURE its done fermenting. The fermentation built up a large amount that floats, with alot of hanging yeast or whatever hanging off of it like ice off the gutter. If I had another ale pale or anything else I would use it. I have not taken gravity. If this thread turns into that I will take it tomarrow after my gentle shaking settles. But like I said, very hard fermentation, lots of co2, lots of floating volcano action for days on end. Im sure its done. Its not my first time around the block here, just first time that I had a bunch of junk floating after fermentation is completed.

NikolausXX · 11-04-2008, 03:35 AM

Ok, before the onslaught of posts come through. I just checked gravity. 1.007. The recipe final gravity is 1.005 so im pretty sure its done. Taste was normal, but my thief came up with clumps of crap in it.

**Nurmey** · 11-04-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikolausXX

but my thief came up with clumps of crap in it.

That's because you keep shaking the fermenter.

NikolausXX · 11-04-2008, 03:50 AM

Ya exactly, it would have had some, not as much as now because I shook it a few hours ago. I just want the stalagmites to settle out before sunday. Im just curious if this method works. It seems to be so far. I started GENTLY swirling it a couple days ago, and it has FAR less floating stuff. I just want a clear rack on sunday, probably no big deal because it can chill another 2 weeks in secondary. Just trying to gain some knowledge here. Usually all my other beers, the stuff at top falls after fermentation stops.