I made a 6 % abv red ale a few months ago (my 8th batch). After 10 days in primary the beer tasted strange, so I gave it 20 total days in primary, still tasted odd. Thought I had an infection, gave it a month in secondary hoping the off flavors would go away, and they did. Oh, fermentation temps were 66-68 deg at all times.
When I racked and bottled I noticed the beer was abnormally clear, at 70 degrees. I racked, primed and bottled. It's been 12 days at 73-75 degrees and still no carbonation, I usually have some carbonation by now. Also, as far as I can tell there's NO sediment in the bottles at all. Normally after a week or so I can swirl a bottle and rouse something from the bottom, but not with these.
Is it possible that the long secondary time caused all (or almost all) the yeast to drop (or die) before bottling, and I don't have enough yeast to carbonate? It's just that it was abnormally clear at bottling time, and while it looked great, it usually isn't that clear at room temp.
I know the first answer will be "wait a few weeks, they'll carbonate", and I plan to, but what if they don't? What is a "reasonable" amount of time before considering adding more yeast? I've never had to add more yeast, would I put everything in a bottling bucket, add more yeast, and re-bottle? How much yeast? I've never used dry yeast, would "proofing" be necessary? It's just annoying because even though it's flat it tastes really good, and I don't want to mess up a good batch of beer trying to make it carbonate. Wish I had a keg... Oh well, any advice would help
Oh, if it matters, I used White Labs WLP001 yeast.
When I racked and bottled I noticed the beer was abnormally clear, at 70 degrees. I racked, primed and bottled. It's been 12 days at 73-75 degrees and still no carbonation, I usually have some carbonation by now. Also, as far as I can tell there's NO sediment in the bottles at all. Normally after a week or so I can swirl a bottle and rouse something from the bottom, but not with these.
Is it possible that the long secondary time caused all (or almost all) the yeast to drop (or die) before bottling, and I don't have enough yeast to carbonate? It's just that it was abnormally clear at bottling time, and while it looked great, it usually isn't that clear at room temp.
I know the first answer will be "wait a few weeks, they'll carbonate", and I plan to, but what if they don't? What is a "reasonable" amount of time before considering adding more yeast? I've never had to add more yeast, would I put everything in a bottling bucket, add more yeast, and re-bottle? How much yeast? I've never used dry yeast, would "proofing" be necessary? It's just annoying because even though it's flat it tastes really good, and I don't want to mess up a good batch of beer trying to make it carbonate. Wish I had a keg... Oh well, any advice would help
Oh, if it matters, I used White Labs WLP001 yeast.