Primary to Secondary Help

I have a ale going in primary for 9 days now.... krausen has not fallen.... i want to rack to secondary so i can add blueberry puree.... i dont have a hydrometer due to breaking it during the brew day..... should i wait?

I would. W/o a hydrometer, you want to be extra sure that the beer is done. Waiting for the krausen to drop and the beer to begin to fall clear would be the way I'd go to be safe.

I was thinking to rack it now cause of adding the blueberries and there being a second fermentation neway ...

NordeastBrewer77 said:

I would. W/o a hydrometer, you want to be extra sure that the beer is done. Waiting for the krausen to drop and the beer to begin to fall clear would be the way I'd go to be safe.

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I would give it another week at least.

NordeastBrewer77 said:

I would. W/o a hydrometer, you want to be extra sure that the beer is done. Waiting for the krausen to drop and the beer to begin to fall clear would be the way I'd go to be safe.

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I would give it another week at least.

CliffMongoloid said:

I was thinking to rack it now cause of adding the blueberries and there being a second fermentation neway ...

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Then why ask? Personally, I want to know my fermentation is complete before moving the beer off of the yeast, so I use a hydrometer. Without one, I'd wait for visible signs of completion, and seeing as you still have krausen and cloudy beer, I'd say those signs aren't there yet. Just me, but I wouldn't take a hydro reading until the krausen fell, so I surely wouldn't be thinking about transferring it at this point.

I wasnt trying to confuse you just bringing up a point... ur points are valid and make sense so i will wait till it falls and get a new hydrometer.... thank you

So when it falls i should rack it?

That's what I'd do. At 9 days, you're probably close to, if not at FG, but no sense in rushing it. You could always help the stubborn krausen by gently (very) giving the fermenter a swirl to loosen it from the sides. I've don't this before and it works, just be careful not to splash the beer.

Thanks... ill wait a few days.... i have a hydrometer just found an extra one but no thief or turkey baster.... ne ideas on how to check?

CliffMongoloid said:

Thanks... ill wait a few days.... i have a hydrometer just found an extra one but no thief or turkey baster.... ne ideas on how to check?

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You can sanatize the hydrometer and float it in the wort and take your measurement that way.

WDT said:

You can sanatize the hydrometer and float it in the wort and take your measurement that way.

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Man, why havent I ever thought of that!

WDT said:

You can sanatize the hydrometer and float it in the wort and take your measurement that way.

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Might not read too well if he still has that krausen layer on top.

Cliff, your local grocer's should have a turkey baster in the 'baking goods' aisle. Just make sure to take it apart and give it a good soak in PBW (or whatever you use to clean) and sanitize it well.

Krausen fell... blueberries are cooling .... wish me luck

In secondary... hopefully its happy

Not bad

CliffMongoloid said:

Not bad

View attachment 69606

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Looks good!

Its been bubbling since sunday and theres a good bit of blueberries floating on the top.... glad i put a blowoff on

Does this look ok?

CliffMongoloid said:

Does this look ok?

View attachment 69802

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Yep. Looks like the blueberries have upstarted fermentation, as you'd expect. Just let it ride til the FG is stable again. Looks good.

How long should i leave it in the primary?

How long should i leave it in the secondary?

CliffMongoloid said:

How long should i leave it in the secondary?

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Until FG is stable over a few days and you're happy with the flavor.