noob ferm question

[ZEDEH]

So I have this pumpkin ale, been in primary for 8 days now. I was thinking it would take a while to ferment, however I have hit my FG and there is still a thick krausen on the top. Should I rack in secondary to let clear up or let the yeast have a few more days to clean up, or just hit the bottles?

 

[LLBeanJ]

I'd wait for the krausen to drop, then cold crash it for a few days if you have the ability, then bottle it.

 

[ZEDEH]

I dont, unless I use the towel evap method. Willing my dogs dont mess with it. If I cold crash do ypu think 50 to 56 would be okay? And for how long, just until clear?

 

[LLBeanJ]

For a cold crash to be effective, you need to chill it to around 38-40 which help clear it faster. If you can't do that (not a big deal - I don't cold crash most of may brews), then leave it in primary for a good 3 weeks so that it will have time to clear. This is especially true for pumpkin beers as they tend to have a lot of solids in suspension and can be slow to clear. You can bottle it sooner if you want, but you'll have more sediment than usual, which you might not want.

 

[JLem]

I'd leave it for another week or so...the krausen should drop and some of the yeast will settle out...and the yeast will help "clean up' some of the undesirable byproducts of fermentation. Generally, I let my fermentations run for 2-3 weeks and then go right to the bottle - I don't cold crash and things have been working just fine. BTW, if I need to, I'll let the fermentation go up to 6 weeks and have had no problems. Better to let it sit another week than to rush things.

 

[ZEDEH]

I figured, just thought the krausen should have fallen by now. And I hit my fg on day 5, supper happy yeast. May need to clean this for my next english. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt breaking anything by waiting too long. Also should I move to secondary to get it off of all that sedement of the pumpkin or will it be fine sitting primary for the whole fermentation?

 

[LLBeanJ]

I'd leave it in primary until you are ready to bottle it.

 

[JLem]

I figured, just thought the krausen should have fallen by now. And I hit my fg on day 5, supper happy yeast. May need to clean this for my next english. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt breaking anything by waiting too long. Also should I move to secondary to get it off of all that sedement of the pumpkin or will it be fine sitting primary for the whole fermentation?

You'll hear both sides of the debate, but, personally, I don't bother with a secondary unless I am adding fruit or oak or bulk aging/lagering...or if I need the primary for another brew. My philosophy is to move the beer as lilttle as possible - for most beers, any benefit you might get from a racking to a secondary vessel is not worth the risk of oxidation or infection. I'd leave this beer in primary for ~3 weeks and skip the secondary.

 

[ZEDEH]

I was thinking that, so I will just let that yeast cake get nice and compact and then bottle, thanks for all of your help. both of you!

 

[jpeebs]

Did 2 pumpkin ales recently. I let them sit in primary for 3 or 4 weeks, did not do a secondary ferment, bottled and conditioned for 3 weeks, then let them sit in the fridge for another 2-3 weeks before a party. Turned out excellent and got great compliments on it. Good luck!

 

[ZEDEH]

Yeah, just tasting off of hydro takes, it is already an amazing beer. Bit of an iff flavor that im sure the yeast will take out.