Fermenting Over Winter?

[Homebrewer123]

So...
I live in New England.
I put a 5 gallon batch in my garage for primary fermentation (plastic bucket). Then I had so much stuff going on I had to let it be for a month or two. Then it got so cold that it froze.

My question is:
Now that it is warming up, and is melted, can I bottle it? I'm assuming the yeasties are dead and gone, but it must have fermented pretty hardcore for a couple weeks there before it froze.

Thanks!

 

[android]

only one way to find out!

 

[oguss0311]

Palmer talks about a similar thing happening to him when he did his first lager.....So long as sanitation was not compromised, you Are going to be fine........

 

[fixie]

As long as it fermented well at somewhat of a constant temp for the first week I think you should be fine. But as they say only one ways to find out. I can't imagine going out to check my beer and have it be Frozen!

 

[Homebrewer123]

well we all know the deal with new england weather

if you don't like it wait a minute

 

[humann_brewing]

the good news is that it is still beer. I really can't think of the bad side

Seriously though, just bottle it and give it a try, maybe you will have a new way of fermenting an ale.

 

[Homebrewer123]

okay so i opened it up and it looks a-ok, no infections or anything. however, when i bottle it for carbonation, should I add more yeast (assuming the yeast that froze is dead), or take my chances with an uncarbonated beer?

thanks!

 

[Yooper]

I'd check the SG, just to make sure it fermented.

Then, I'd add about 1/4 package of nottingham yeast to the cooled priming solution and stir well. Then rack the beer into it and bottle it.

 

[mciaio]

I'd check the SG, just to make sure it fermented.

+1, check the SG to make sure it's done fermenting. If it's not low enough, pitch more yeast and wait another week.