For the other beginners, fully aerated wort ..

[TheWeeb]

is a Wonderful Thing!

Just brewed my Maibock this morning, and using the "bucket dance" method of aeration - pouring vigorously between two vessels ten times (I use my brew pot and fermentation bucket) - results in much wonderful foam; all the way to the top of the six gallon bucket. It was so purdy I thought I would share a picture of it. In my limited experience at this wonderful hobby I have always had my fermentation take off in short time; I have to think proper aeration is a big part of this. This Maibock, my second lager, came in at an OG of 1.064 @ 52 degrees pitching temp (took the reading before aeration of course). Foam is your Friend!

 

[snipper_cr]

Looks infected. You should send the entire contents to me for proper disposal.

 

[cappy]

Any tips for getting this kind of aeration in a carboy? I put my (sanitized) hand over it and shake the hell out it. It makes me nervous and it is a bit hard on the back. It seems to work OK but I've never had foam like that!

 

[JohnnyO]

I've heard of people putting a tennis ball or a heavy duty handball under the carboy and balancing their bucket or carboy on that to swirl it around. Personally, I just tilt it and swirl/shake the crap out of it.

 

[jfr1111]

Cappy, I put a good sized piece of sanitized foil on the opening and just shake the crap out of it with the carboy still on the floor, the times I'm willing to use a carboy (sometimes in circles, sometimes back and forth, I improvise). It's easier on the back and a lot safer than picking it up and messing with it. I give it at least two minutes. Just make sure you are doing this on a carpet or outside: you don't want to scratch your hardwood floors.

 

[BrookdaleBrew]

People overthink this aeration thing way too much. Simply siphon from your kettle (or use your kettle valve) and do exactly the opposite of what you'd do if you were transferring post fermentation. Hold the tubing in such a manner that the wort splashes as much as possible on the way into the fermentor. Bam, your wort is aerated perfectly.

 

[devilishprune]

I have mine in a milk crate, and I set it on a towel so it won't slip. Then I tilt it on its edge and shake the crap out of it for a couple minutes.

 

[borden]

I've had good luck just pouring the wort into the ale pail once, but splashing a ton and then stirring for about 3 minutes. I've seen recommendations to do more, but this has worked great every time for me. *shrug*

Good pic, too. That does look awful tasty (or pre-tasty)!

 

[TheWeeb]

Any tips for getting this kind of aeration in a carboy? I put my (sanitized) hand over it and shake the hell out it. It makes me nervous and it is a bit hard on the back. It seems to work OK but I've never had foam like that!

Maybe pot to sanitized bucket several times, then funnel the foamy goodness into the carboy?

 

[TomSD]

Any tips for getting this kind of aeration in a carboy? I put my (sanitized) hand over it and shake the hell out it. It makes me nervous and it is a bit hard on the back. It seems to work OK but I've never had foam like that!

I sanitize a stopper then plug the carboy and put it on its side on the counter. From there I just roll it forward and back getting a good breaking wave on each end of the cycle. A minute or two of that and you're plenty aerated. The whole time one hand is firmly gripped on the stopper end and the other is guiding it from the fat end.

Little risk since it can't really roll off the counter with you standing there and it is flat on the counter so breaking shouldn't be a problem. Also you aren't hefting any weight so it isn't that strenuous.

 

[johnnyt471]

I've just poured the water from up high onto the wort when I'm topping it off after the boil. I just did this with a 1.072 IPA and it seems to work fine. I'm still not sure why people go through hoops and bounds to get the "perfect" aeration.

 

[PolishLogic]

I aerate simply by sticking a funnel in the carboy and dumping the wort from kettle into carboy. Never had any issues with using just that method.