I have had an IPA extract kit in a plastic bucket primary for 10 days. I want to open and check gravity to see if I should transfer to secondary (glass carboy). If I open and the gravity is still high should I recover and install the air lock again? Will oxygen getting in be an issue?
OK to open and close primary?
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homebrewer_99
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As long as the airlock is gurgling the wort is producing CO2 which is heavier than O2 and no air really gets in there. 
Yes, it's OK to check. We all do it.
Yes, it's OK to check. We all do it.
Barley-Davidson
Well-Known Member
No, it's not a problem. You don't want to aerate the wort by shaking, splashing etc., but you can open the lid.
You can also transfer to secondary with some fermentation still going on, it'll finish up in the carboy. Sometimes racking wakes up the yeast a little and you get some new activity, nothing to worry about.
You can also transfer to secondary with some fermentation still going on, it'll finish up in the carboy. Sometimes racking wakes up the yeast a little and you get some new activity, nothing to worry about.
Barley-Davidson
Well-Known Member
That isn't unusual, some ales completely ferment very quickly. Go ahead and rack it.
Just opened and it smelled great (nice hop aroma)
Gravity measured 1.019 @ 74 degrees
OG was 1.050 @ 80 degrees 10 days ago.
Recipe calls out OG 1.050-1.055 and FG 1.012-1.015.
So I think this means its time to go to secondary even though I'm a few points short of what the recipe calls for?
Gravity measured 1.019 @ 74 degrees
OG was 1.050 @ 80 degrees 10 days ago.
Recipe calls out OG 1.050-1.055 and FG 1.012-1.015.
So I think this means its time to go to secondary even though I'm a few points short of what the recipe calls for?
Barley-Davidson
Well-Known Member
I would rack to secondary. It might drop a few more points or it might stay the same. Either way you're OK.
Your at 62% apparent attenuation, which is low, but not so much that you should be concerned.
Your at 62% apparent attenuation, which is low, but not so much that you should be concerned.
Brewsmith
Home brewing moogerfooger
I would keep it on the yeast a little longer just to see if you can squeeze a few more gravity points out of it before removing the beer from the yeast. I say give it two weeks.
What yeast did you use and how was your airation technique?
What yeast did you use and how was your airation technique?
Already transferred to secondary. Yeast came with the kit, here are the ingredients:
6.6 lbs. Coopers Light Malt Extract
8 oz. Crushed Victory Malt
16 oz. Crushed Crystal 60L Malt
2 oz. Northern Brewer Hops (Bittering) AA8.0%
1 oz. Cascade Hops (Finishing) AA5.8%
1 packet Muntons Bear Yeast
Yeast was re-hydrated in room temperature water before pitching. Aeration was done by manually stirring with a metal slotted spatula for a couple of minutes.
6.6 lbs. Coopers Light Malt Extract
8 oz. Crushed Victory Malt
16 oz. Crushed Crystal 60L Malt
2 oz. Northern Brewer Hops (Bittering) AA8.0%
1 oz. Cascade Hops (Finishing) AA5.8%
1 packet Muntons Bear Yeast
Yeast was re-hydrated in room temperature water before pitching. Aeration was done by manually stirring with a metal slotted spatula for a couple of minutes.
