Krausen problem???

[frostyone]

I am currently on my third batch of beer and am concerned about the fact that there is way more krausen on this batch than there has been in the other two. Is it normal for there to be over an inch in the secondary fermenter? I'm probably just a worry wort (pun intended), but I feel like I need some reassurance. It is also bubbling a lot more than when it was in the primary. Hopefully this is just a RDWHAH problem, lol.

 

[SavageSteve]

The thicker krauesen and increased airlock activity means it's fermenting faster than your other brews. Definitely a RDWHAHB moment.

-Steve

 

[SavageSteve]

Oh, I just read the post again. This is in the secondary, so fermentation was probably not finished when you racked it from the primary.

Take a sample, test the gravity to see where the fermentation is and taste it. I'm sure it's fine.

-Steve

 

[frostyone]

That was my assumption, but I wasn't sure if this could also be caused by infection or not. Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[oldschool]

I did read some other threads about this..some other people have experienced a krausen 8 days in to fermentation. Guess we'll just have to wait it out.

 

[frostyone]

It bubbled around every minute or so, but I don't have the readings in front of me right now. I'll get back to you on that.

 

[ajf]

It could be caused by an infection, but it is very unlikely.
Did you check the gravity before racking to secondary? and was the gravity very close to the estimated FG?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, then your yeasts are trying to teach you a lesson.

-a.

 

[Nurmey]

Moving your beer to secondary sometimes excites the yeast particularly if it wasn't finished when you moved it. It really doesn't sound like it was finished when you racked.

Let it do what it's doing and leave it alone for a couple weeks.

 

[oldschool]

Updates on the OG and the grav. when it was racked: Aug 30 1.055 at 71 F Raked sept 6 1.023 at 70. and yeah i'm doubting that it was done but this is the first one that had a krausen after day 4 or 5

 

[Nurmey]

Well good news, you un-stuck your fermentation.

 

[Kickass]

I’m confused, Frosty posted the initial post and oldschool seems to be answering from about half way down. Did you guy brew together or do you have two login names?

Well good news, you un-stuck your fermentation.

It may have never been stuck, without consecutive gravity readings you're throwing darts with a blindfold

 

[frostyone]

I’m confused, Frosty posted the initial post and oldschool seems to be answering from about half way down. Did you guy brew together or do you have two login names?



It may have never been stuck, without consecutive gravity readings you're throwing darts with a blindfold

Sorry as to the confusion; we brew together. The reading from Sept 6 @1.023 at 70F was also what it had read two days before that, so I don't know about the dart throwing when we have three readings. How many do you typically take? I know some people take three in addition to the OG and right before bottling, but two I think would suffice if you spaced them apart without any change.

 

[Kickass]

No you're right 3 consistant readings over a few day time span seems adequate i think i missed that in the read. Nurmey's words may have nailed it.

BTW: Brew buddies Kick ass, it's not always easy to find someone who has a passion for beer, let alone brewing it.

 

[Nurmey]

I usually take two readings; one when it goes in the primary and another 4 weeks later when I'm ready to rack to secondary or bottle. After 100 or so batches, I also know what gravity I am expecting. Occasionally I sneak another sample out to get a reading after a couple weeks but that's mostly because I want to taste it.

For new brewers you did it right in checking it a couple days apart. Normally I would say to leave it in the primary until FG is reached but it sounds like yours stopped early so racking to secondary jump started it again. In this case it was very good that you moved to secondary instead of bottling because you would have made bombs.

As mentioned before, let it do its thing for a couple weeks and hopefully you can get it down a few more points.

 

[frostyone]

As mentioned before, let it do its thing for a couple weeks and hopefully you can get it down a few more points.

I'm rooting for those few extra points, lol. The stronger it is, the longer it lasts! Well...I guess that is the theory anyway. A few headaches in the past may disagree with me.

 

[dantodd]

I'm sure it will come down some, 1.023 is pretty high to bottle for most styles. Wait a week to 10 days and test again