So I have attempted to take FG readings without a thief and find that gravity readings don't change in a measurable amount on a daily basis and am curious what the "feeling" is for when a brew is ready for the secondary. I have heard; "as soon as the krausen falls and not a minute later", "when gravity readings are the same two days in a row" and a couple "ferment for x days" with no specification of activity status after those days.
My experience is that each batch has much different activity. One ferments for 4 days and krausen falls, another ferments for 10 days and is still bubbling.
So is there a general rule of thumb in terms of bubbles per minute?
My current batch, at 13 days fermentation, is bubbling once every 1.5 minutes. Should I really wait for no sign of activity. I have heard that the flavor can be negatively affected by sitting on a bunch of dead yeast cells. These theories conflict one another - wait for no activity but hang out and party with the dead yeast???
It's all making me feel a little
My experience is that each batch has much different activity. One ferments for 4 days and krausen falls, another ferments for 10 days and is still bubbling.
So is there a general rule of thumb in terms of bubbles per minute?
My current batch, at 13 days fermentation, is bubbling once every 1.5 minutes. Should I really wait for no sign of activity. I have heard that the flavor can be negatively affected by sitting on a bunch of dead yeast cells. These theories conflict one another - wait for no activity but hang out and party with the dead yeast???
It's all making me feel a little