I did Beersmith's Easy Cream Ale recipe using East Coast Ale WLP008.
As I read this is a top fermenter, and as then expected that's what I got. A good strong fermentation on top, leaving a densely packed krausen that almost looked like styrofoam floating on top.
So, after 2 weeks and still having the krausen on top I gently nudged the carboy to see if the krausen would fall. It did, and with the chunks there were what looked like yeast streaming off of the chunks. So I thought aha, it was done and the krausen just had a ton of CO2 in it and it was stuck floating on top.
So after the krausen and streaming yeast fell to the bottom the top was relatively clear. I figured another week and I should be good to go. Nope.
After 2 days the krausen's there again and it still looks to be fermenting. I'm a day shy of 3 weeks, used appropriate starter on stir plate, had a good top ferment that started going visible in less than 12 hours, had what seemed to be a visible finish to first part of ferment and had floating krausen for weeks.
After a nudge I get a drop and then more krausen all over again with new bubbles on top. Pic included of the 2nd krausen.
I didn't shake but more nudged back and forth to make the top move and get the krausen to drop. Is this more likely CO2 escape catching yeast and bringing it back to the top repeatedly?
And if so, should I just rack into the keg at 4 weeks?
I'm thinking let it settle one last time for a week or 2 then rack into keg.
Since I'll need to let it sit for a bit I'm leary of taking a gravity reading for fear of contamination.... a time where I guess I need to get a refrac
Opinion?
I know the recipe was two stage ale ferment.... I usually leave it in the primary until done. Is this a recipe which demands secondary ferment?
As I read this is a top fermenter, and as then expected that's what I got. A good strong fermentation on top, leaving a densely packed krausen that almost looked like styrofoam floating on top.
So, after 2 weeks and still having the krausen on top I gently nudged the carboy to see if the krausen would fall. It did, and with the chunks there were what looked like yeast streaming off of the chunks. So I thought aha, it was done and the krausen just had a ton of CO2 in it and it was stuck floating on top.
So after the krausen and streaming yeast fell to the bottom the top was relatively clear. I figured another week and I should be good to go. Nope.
After 2 days the krausen's there again and it still looks to be fermenting. I'm a day shy of 3 weeks, used appropriate starter on stir plate, had a good top ferment that started going visible in less than 12 hours, had what seemed to be a visible finish to first part of ferment and had floating krausen for weeks.
After a nudge I get a drop and then more krausen all over again with new bubbles on top. Pic included of the 2nd krausen.
I didn't shake but more nudged back and forth to make the top move and get the krausen to drop. Is this more likely CO2 escape catching yeast and bringing it back to the top repeatedly?
And if so, should I just rack into the keg at 4 weeks?
I'm thinking let it settle one last time for a week or 2 then rack into keg.
Since I'll need to let it sit for a bit I'm leary of taking a gravity reading for fear of contamination.... a time where I guess I need to get a refrac
Opinion?
I know the recipe was two stage ale ferment.... I usually leave it in the primary until done. Is this a recipe which demands secondary ferment?