Can I mix in priming solution from the top?

[beerkench]

Hi,

I need to move my fermented beer 100 yards from the house to my brew shed so I can cold crash and bottle there. (It was too cold in the shed to ferment)
I was thinking of first racking it off into my bottling bucket to avoid upsetting the cake. Once in the bottling bucket I can move it to me brew shed and cold crash in the fridge there for a day before bottling. I would then however need to get the priming solution mixed in well.
Will it mix completely gently pour in from the top?

 

[pfredop]

That is how I used to do it. I imagine you are asking about if the effect will be same as putting the prime in your bottlibg bucket first, then racking on top. It will be fine if you add the prime from the top and gently stir all together. Certainly boil to dissolve the sugar or DME first in the recommended amount of water...

 

[Trox]

It probalby wouldn't mix right if you just pour it in, and I'm guessing you probably don't want to go stirring the beer since your cold crashing to clear it up. Of course does it really matter if you upset the cake a little bit if you are going to cold crash anyways?

 

[pfredop]

I second trox...could you just move the carboy, let it crash and proceed as normal w the priming?

 

[peterj]

I third trox. By transferring it to the bottling bucket to cold crash, you're introducing a lot of oxygen and risking oxidation. I would move the primary and just try not to slosh too much. Everything should settle back out fairly quickly especially if you are cold crashing.

Also I always transfer my beer to the bottling bucket before adding the priming solution. That way I can see exactly how much beer I have so I know exactly how much priming sugar to add. I just boil the sugar in about a cup and a half of water, cool, pour into the beer, and gently (but thoroughly) mix with a sanitized spoon without splashing.

 

[beerkench]

Would a day's cold crashing be enough to clear up any yeast cake thrown up during moving?

 

[pfredop]

I think a day would be good enough to crash it.

 

[beerkench]

I third trox. By transferring it to the bottling bucket to cold crash, you're introducing a lot of oxygen and risking oxidation. I would move the primary and just try not to slosh too much. Everything should settle back out fairly quickly especially if you are cold crashing.

Also I always transfer my beer to the bottling bucket before adding the priming solution. That way I can see exactly how much beer I have so I know exactly how much priming sugar to add. I just boil the sugar in about a cup and a half of water, cool, pour into the beer, and gently (but thoroughly) mix with a sanitized spoon without splashing.

But I will have to transfer to my bottling bucket at some point anyway, so what difference would it make doing it a little earlier?

 

[pfredop]

He had said oxidation concerns. Once you transfer to bottling bucket you should bottle fairly soon afterward so as to not have O2 sitting on your beer for too long.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/zymurgy/online-extras/oxidation-good-beer-gone-bad

I know there are a BUNCH of threads on here about this too.

 

[hbtasdfg]

The problem is you have to stir it thoroughly which has the opposite effect of cold crashing (distributes yeast thoroughly). If you don't stir it you might end up with bottles ranging from zero carbonation to bottle bombs- if the priming solution sinks to the bottom and doesn't mix

 

[beerkench]

Ok thanks.
I will move the carboy out and cold crash like you all said.

 

[BigFloyd]

Ok thanks.
I will move the carboy out and cold crash like you all said.

Good choice.

If it were my batch, I'd want to crash it at least 3 days after moving it that far. It takes several hours just for that much fluid to reach to colder temp.