Odd fermentation "reboot"...not seen with Safale 05 before

[iamwhatiseem]

I have seen a fermentation seemingly end, to only restart back up again several days later on high gravity brews, and Belgian Tripels I make.
But this is a simple brown ale I have made 4-5 times at least, ABV usually finishes around 4.5%. I use a temp. controlled ex-refrigerator that during active ferm. I check several times a day to be sure it is consistently at temp.
The fermentator "tape" temperature stayed right around 66-68 degrees during active, and rested at about 64 when krausen dropped.
It has been sitting quiet for almost 2 weeks...I was going to bottle it Thursday.
But yesterday I saw it was bubbling again, I thought "nah...surely..."...but today it has a new krausen, only about 1/2 thick but it is clearly there and bubbling ecery few seconds.

What the? The original fermentation was not unusual, did not drop off suddenly or too soon. I have never seen 05 do this, it is usually so efficient.
The Krausen is a perfect tan color and the beer smells perfectly normal...no weird colors or large bubble signaling infection.
Weird.

 

[ncbrewer]

I haven't had that happen but have read about it in some other threads. What's to keep it from happening after you bottle and give you bottle bombs? Kind of scary.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

WHat I am concerned about now...and maybe someone will answer......should I leave it for several weeks again after this stops?
That would be a total of about 6 weeks...that concerns me.

 

[ncbrewer]

No real answer, but I've left "standard" beer in primary for 2 months with no problem. I'd leave it if it was mine, just to feel more confident about no bottle bombs.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Here is a photo.
Today is Friday, it has been pretty much exactly like this since Tuesday.
A bubbler bloop about every 10-15 seconds.
This was pitched 23 days ago.
Smells wonderful...no discoloration in this "head"...very much like a really thin krausen.

 

[brew_ny]

have you taken any gravity reading? maybe a two a couple days apart?

that will give you a better idea of where you are at

all the best

S_M

 

[iamwhatiseem]

have you taken any gravity reading? maybe a two a couple days apart?

that will give you a better idea of where you are at

all the best

S_M

Yeah I should break it out.
I'll admit I have not read gravity for the past 7-8 brews at least.
I have my processes down to a science...I know.
But that is what need to do here, although this is highly off the scale weird.
It's first active fermentation before krausen fall was about 4 days, nothing unusual there and it was pretty active.
This odd restart is not very active, the "krausen" is maybe an 1/8" thick now...been going on 4 days. Never seen this on a moderate ABV with 05.

 

[brew_ny]

Yeah I should break it out.
I'll admit I have not read gravity for the past 7-8 brews at least.
I have my processes down to a science...I know.
But that is what need to do here, although this is highly off the scale weird.
It's first active fermentation before krausen fall was about 4 days, nothing unusual there and it was pretty active.
This odd restart is not very active, the "krausen" is maybe an 1/8" thick now...been going on 4 days. Never seen this on a moderate ABV with 05.

neither have I with 05 which I use almost all the time but I just keep top cropping it from one batch to the next

so maybe it is a bit different

S_M