mfvreeland
Member
So here's the story. I'm currently fermenting a basic porter using Wyeast 1318. I didn't really know what this meant before I started this beer, but apparently Wyeast 1318 is a "true top-cropping yeast strain." Evidently, this means that the initial fermentation will be intense (using a 6.5-gallon carboy and no starter, I still required a blow-off hose), and the krausen, once established, will pretty much never fall to the bottom on its own. In a way, I'm relieved. At first I thought I must have done something wrong when I noticed the krausen not subsiding at all after a week in the primary (even though primary fermentation had clearly slowed way down), but then I read that this yeast strain is known for this behavior. Phew. However, now I don't know how to proceed; I've found different advice from different places. So, given the following options, what do you guys think I should do?
A. Regularly agitate the beer for the remainder of fermentation. One source I've found explains that true top-croppers need to have their krausen nudged back into the beer in order for fermentation to complete properly.
B. Just leave it alone for now and rack from underneath the krausen layer after fermentation has stopped (as indicated by hydrometer readings). I guess I could do this, but then I'd be worried about mixing the krausen into my finished product. Would this be a risk factor?
Thanks in advance for any input you guys can offer, and let this post be a warning for future London Ale III users.
A. Regularly agitate the beer for the remainder of fermentation. One source I've found explains that true top-croppers need to have their krausen nudged back into the beer in order for fermentation to complete properly.
B. Just leave it alone for now and rack from underneath the krausen layer after fermentation has stopped (as indicated by hydrometer readings). I guess I could do this, but then I'd be worried about mixing the krausen into my finished product. Would this be a risk factor?
Thanks in advance for any input you guys can offer, and let this post be a warning for future London Ale III users.