Dry cracked yeast cake on top of primary

[Bjørn Bernes]

Hello

APA after 16 days of primary at 15-17 degrees celcius with (W44 US West Coast yeast) we met this sight (see picture). A big dry craked cake on top of our fermenting bucket. We have brewed this APA many times before but never seen this. What is it? And how did it happen?

 

[Staticsouls]

Was the lid tight? Did you dry hop? Seems odd that didn't fall out and settle one the bottom.

 

[Bjørn Bernes]

I think the lid was tight, and we did not dry hop. Some told me it could be because of Irish mosh? (too much of it maybe) then the protiens would flucculate faster and travel (by CO2) to the top (foam layer) and make this odd cake. I read, that another guy had experienced the same thing with an APA and a little too cold fermenting temperature (14-17) instead of recommended (18-24). Maybe thats the reason?

 

[Staticsouls]

Don't dump it till you taste it

 

[Yooper]

Looks like a bunch of dried out pellet hops. Stick a racking cane or turkey baster through it, and pull out a sample of beer to see how it looks and tastes.

 

[prep8611]

@Yooper
I told him/her the same thing on beeradvocate forums.