Here is the deal:
4.5 gallons of a Pacific Gala/Pink Pearl/Gravenstein OG .050 pH 3.4, an early season Blend fresh pressed.
Added 9 campden tablets ( learned later this that was way to much, won't be using campden before ferment in the future).
Pitched a pack of Red Star Cotes du Blanc yeast and within 2 days with a bit of stirring the fermentation was up and running things, drop to .012 in 3 days.
I dont want a completely dry finished cider. But with this yeast the fermentation was easily well on its way to creating just that-a very dry cider, so in an effort to save the last bit of sweetness I placed the carboy now at 1.008 in a Frig/cooler (temp 39 F) until I had the time to rack/crash.
24 hours later SG at now at 1.0055 racked no problem. Left a bit of cider at the bottom of primary fermentor hoping to leave behind as much yeast as possible.
36 hrs later SG at 1.004. Still a heavy cloud in the cider. Lots of carbonation bubbles. Crashed.
So.....48hrs have passed since 2nd rack/cold crash, the cider is clearing s-l-o-w-l-y.
What are my options?
Take another gravity reading?
Leave it chilled and wait to see if it clears all the way?
Id love to get this round stabilized and bottled.
4.5 gallons of a Pacific Gala/Pink Pearl/Gravenstein OG .050 pH 3.4, an early season Blend fresh pressed.
Added 9 campden tablets ( learned later this that was way to much, won't be using campden before ferment in the future).
Pitched a pack of Red Star Cotes du Blanc yeast and within 2 days with a bit of stirring the fermentation was up and running things, drop to .012 in 3 days.
I dont want a completely dry finished cider. But with this yeast the fermentation was easily well on its way to creating just that-a very dry cider, so in an effort to save the last bit of sweetness I placed the carboy now at 1.008 in a Frig/cooler (temp 39 F) until I had the time to rack/crash.
24 hours later SG at now at 1.0055 racked no problem. Left a bit of cider at the bottom of primary fermentor hoping to leave behind as much yeast as possible.
36 hrs later SG at 1.004. Still a heavy cloud in the cider. Lots of carbonation bubbles. Crashed.
So.....48hrs have passed since 2nd rack/cold crash, the cider is clearing s-l-o-w-l-y.
What are my options?
Take another gravity reading?
Leave it chilled and wait to see if it clears all the way?
Id love to get this round stabilized and bottled.