Beer turned darker in secondary

Colizza · Jan 15, 2015

So i racked my saison in the secondary after a 2 weeks fermentation in primary, dry hopped it for 4 days with 11/2- 2oz of citra hops (its still in the fermentor) I looked at it before racking in secondary in a glass and it was a nice blond color (which is what i expected with german pils, light munich and whaet malt). It has now been for 2 days in the secondary and it look amberish in the carboy. I know its normal when you seperate it from yeast with suspension particles, but my question is: will it be a amber saison or its gonna be more blond (like what i expected)?

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KWright_VT · Jan 15, 2015

I'm new as well, but experienced the same thing you're mentioning. After a week in the secondary, mine is lightening up, and I'm certain it will look darker in the carboy because of the volume. It looks more like a pale ale now.

chickypad · Jan 15, 2015

I wouldn't sweat it until you see it in a glass or hydrometer tube. Golden ales will look amber in a carboy. I've seen pale ales look like browns in the fermenter.

Colizza · Jan 15, 2015

Ok! I will be bottlung in 2 days!

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mrgrimm101 · Jan 16, 2015

From my experience, beer tends to look darker in a bucket or carboy, than it is in hoses or in a glass. The larger the volume, the deeper the color is going to look. It could also look darker than it did in primary because the suspended yeast has fallen out and isn't contributing it's lighter color.

Roadie · Jan 16, 2015

Definitely don't go by the color in the carboy as it's too large of a vessel. If you're worried about it draw off a small sample as if you were taking a hydrometer reading and you should be reassured.