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Weird yeast activity?

Discussion in 'Fermentation & Yeast' started by Dave37, Nov 9, 2012.

 

  1. #1
    Dave37

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    Racked my BGS over to my secondary glass carboy after 22 days in the primary and after a couple of days I'm seeing some weird activity from the leftover yeast that made it to my secondary. I attached a pic showing what I believe to be some small clumps of yeast still alive and floating in my wort. While some clumps are sinking down to the bottom of the carboy, others are floating up to the top then sinking again. They are pretty much doing vertical laps in the pool. Is this normal? Or is it weird that the yeast looks like that and is still active after almost 1 full month? This is my 1st secondary fermentation. Thanks in advance for any insight.

    image-1356288189.jpg
     
  2. #2
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    I call them "yeast clumpies". They sometimes form floating rafts and clump like that.
     
  3. #3
    pabloj13

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    Yeast rafts. Normal.
     
  4. #4
    Dave37

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    Thanks yooper and Pablo. Good to know. This is only my 3rd batch ever. So I'm still paranoid about every unexpected thing that comes up. HBT is the shiznit. Thanks
     
  5. #5
    djb467

    New Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    I have a similar secondary question and thought I'd mention it here. I'm sorry if I took over someone else's thread.
    I racked my holiday ale to glass carboy secondary two weeks ago and added two cinnamon sticks. After about eight days I started getting a head on the beer. My LHBS guy (who is a brewing savant) said it could be either infection or atmospheric pressure change (I'm on the east coast and it did coincide with Sandy.)
    Since I don't want to leave it in there if it's infected, and I can't bottle it if its still fermenting, I'm cold crashing it out back for 24 hours and then bottling.
    Is this the best move or are there any other suggestions out there? Will cold crashing help drop infection out at all?
     
  6. #6
    pabloj13

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    No cold crashing won't remove an infection. If it IS fermenting you want to let it go. It could be just CO2 offgassing. What is the gravity? Has it been stable?
     
  7. #7
    djb467

    New Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    Gravity was 1.012. I had @ 90% attenuation after primary. No activity for first week in secondary. We lost power for two days after Sandy and had some pretty significant temperature changes. I had a bacillus infection in my last brew and this looks nothing like it. I'm hoping its just CO2 blow off.
     
  8. #8
    pabloj13

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Nov 9, 2012
    I would just check it again in a couple days. If it's still 1.012, you're golden.
     
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