is this normal???

[je52rm]

so im doing my first batch of cider using brandon O's Graff recipe and I am wondering about the krausen activity i have in my glass 5-gallon carboy. Normally with ales (Using whiteLabs liquid yeast) i have a nice steady krausen blowing off through my glass blow-off tube for a good 2-3 days and then calming down until fermentation is complete but its much different with my Graff. I used Safale-05 dry yeast sprinkled directly into cooled wort (as directed from my LHBS) and the next day there wasn't much krausen even though there was a lot of activity and bubbling (fermentation starting) so i just relaxed and waited. About 48 hours after pitching yeast it started to produce a krausen that reached about 1-1.5 inches thick at the peak of its production but not even close to getting to the blow-off tube. About 3 days after pitching the yeast almost all the krausen fell to the bottom of glass carboy and stayed that way for about 12 hours and then I woke up this morning and theres another krausen forming????? Its only about .5 inch thick but strange behavior compared to ale fermentation.

Is this normal behavior for Graff/Ciders or is it possibly something I may be doing that I am not aware of?

Also could it be the dry yeast reacting differently since i pitched it dry?

 

[Pickled_Pepper]

Sounds pretty normal to me. I've only made one batch of Graff, but the krausen was no bigger than 2" thick. It only lasted a few days and was gone. After the "beer" krausen dropped, I got the normal "cider" foam on top which was no where nearly as productive.

I think you are right on track.