Cold crashing or preservatives..or both?

[ArtV]

In reading through the forums I see that cold crashing can be used to both render the yeast inactive (....I think) and/or to clarify the cider. Would cold crashing be used in conjunction with adding sulfites and sorbate to sweeten and stabilize?

I want to stop the fermentation once it drops below an SG of 1.10 or perhaps closer to 1.05. At this point I would rack the cider...and then? Cold crash? Preservatives? I want to eventually bottle without concerning myself of bottle bombs when sharing the cider with friends.

 

[ArtV]

I hope I worded this question correctly so I read some more in the forums. The cold would help with clarity though it would not not do the same as the sorbate/sulfite inhibiting the yeast from doing their thing.

I'll figure this out some day.

 

[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

I'm not sure the sorbates will stop an active ferment, its more like let it finish dry then sorbate to prevent renewed ferment when you back sweeten.

 

[ArtV]

Gotcha. What about trying to stop the fermentation at a specific, SG?

 

[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

I'm pretty sure I've seen on here people doing it with cold crash but admittedly not sure how that one works.

 

[Jim311]

I don't think cold crashing is to kill the yeast, it's to help clarity, but perhaps someone more experienced can advise. If cold crashing killed the yeast then it seems to me a lot of people cold crashing wouldn't be able to bottle their beers/ciders to carbonate. I think the cold just causes the yeast to go dormant. People keep their yeast starters in the fridge to ferment later batches so I'm pretty sure that being cold doesn't hurt the yeast. Some people keep yeast in their fridge for 6 months or more and it still ferments their next batch!

 

[MarkKF]

From reading I believe cold crash stops the yeast activity and causes it to drop. Then racking greatly reduces the amount of yeast remaining. Then u can inhibit reproduction to stop fermentation.

 

[ArtV]

This makes sense. So I already racked once so can you cold crash it over a period of time or only before bottling?

 

[MarkKF]

This makes sense. So I already racked once so can you cold crash it over a period of time or only before bottling?

Sorry, I can't help you. I don't do it.

I ferment dry then rack & age before bottling.