Crashing and Bottling

[mssmith]

I have been partial mash brewing (Ales) for a little over a year now. Until now I have only been utilizing a primary fermentation prior to bottling. I would like to take the next step, and start using a secondary.

My problem is that, if I transfer my beer to a secondary (and crash it to a low temp.) so that my beer clearifies more, do I need to add yeast to it along with the priming sugar before botting? If so who much yeast is recommended? I am brewing 5 gallons.

 

[Pappers_]

I regularly rack my beer to a secondary carboy or bright tank as they are sometimes called and have never had to re-pitch yeast for bottling. Plenty of yeast remains alive and kickin' to get the carbonation job done.

Re-pitching yeast may be necessary when you have brewed a really extraordinarily high gravity beer and the original yeast are just too stressed to get the rest of the job done, or if you've conditioned or stored a beer for a long period of time, like a year.

 

[mssmith]

have you ever crashed your secondary to help with clearity, prior to bottling?

thanks,

 

[cclloyd]

I've done it a few times - I have racked from bucket to carboy then into a mini-fridge at 38*F for a week. It clears amazingly well and leaves plenty of yeast to bottle condition / carbonate.

 

[mssmith]

Thank you both for the help. I am brewing a Cream Ale this weekend and am looking forward to crashing my homebrew when its time for the secondary.

Thanks Again
Matt