Primary question

[Chet zaremski]

i brewed a few extracts a couple of years ago but was I injuries at work and kind of lost interest until now. I ordered the extract milk chocolate stout from NB and did a partial boil in my kitchen last Sunday since temperature in Philadelphia was about 8. I didn’t want to stand outside with the big kettle and freeze. I used a new 6 or 6.5 better bottle as my primary and pitched omega NW pacific yeast. My go was 1.051 and fermentation started around 24 hours post pitch. I went to check the primary today and there is still a lot of Krause floating on top. I checked the gravity which was 1.020 and tasted the sample. It tasted ok, not very stout like but the flavor was good. My temps tire in the primary is 68-70 My question is- is it common for Krause. To hang around that long? I figured I would put in secondary next Sunday which will be 2 weeks and at some point put in the coco nibs. I guess because I never used a better bottle and have no idea of what fermentation really looks like or the timing I figured I would ask.Thanks

 

[jalc6927]

I usually leave mine in primary for 3 weeks, to let the yeast work and wort to settle

You’ll find no real need to secondary unless you need the fermenter freed up for another batch

 

[Chet zaremski]

I usually leave mine in primary for 3 weeks, to let the yeast work and wort to settle

You’ll find no real need to secondary unless you need the fermenter freed up for another batch

Thanks!
I can just add the coco nibs to the primary in another week?

 

[jalc6927]

In that case secondary is good, sorry I should have mentioned that along with fruit additions is when using a second fermenter is good

 

[Chet zaremski]

In that case secondary is good, sorry I should have mentioned that along with fruit additions is when using a second fermenter is good

Sound good! Thanks

 

[kh54s10]

I have never used coco nibs, but unless there is something that I don't understand about them I see no reason to do a secondary. I do most of my dry hopping, oak chips and things like that in primary. If I am going to add a lot of hops I will use a bucket. I bag the hops. One ounce in a one gallon paint strainer bag. More bags for more hops. For one or two bags I will put them in my Better Bottle. They are a bit of a PITA to remove from the bottle, but it is possible.

If you plan to bulk age this beer for more than a couple of months, a secondary might be the right call. But for less than that I would not do a secondary.

 

[Chet zaremski]

I have never used coco nibs, but unless there is something that I don't understand about them I see no reason to do a secondary. I do most of my dry hopping, oak chips and things like that in primary. If I am going to add a lot of hops I will use a bucket. I bag the hops. One ounce in a one gallon paint strainer bag. More bags for more hops. For one or two bags I will put them in my Better Bottle. They are a bit of a PITA to remove from the bottle, but it is possible.

If you plan to bulk age this beer for more than a couple of months, a secondary might be the right call. But for less than that I would not do a secondary.

Ok. I was just following the direction that came with it. In the picture I added, does the Krause look right? I figured it would of dropped already. Didn’t think it would hang around over a week

 

[kh54s10]

It looks normal. Krausen will last different lengths of time with each recipe or yeast. Sometimes it never drops, then you have to rack from under it. I don't really know how long they last on mine since I don't really pay any attention until day 14 at the earliest when I might bottle or keg the beer. I usually get lazy and they sit around for 3-5 weeks. By then the krausen has usually dropped. I have never had one intact but have had "islands" of krausen or yeast still on the surface.

I would suggest you don't do anything to this beer for at least another week, probably 2 more weeks would be good. I let my stouts ferment for 3-4 weeks then bottle condition for another month or so before starting to drink them.

 

[irontodd]

The krausen on my latest Blonde Ale hasn't fallen and it's been two weeks since brew day. I agree with @kh54s10, leave it be for a while longer, another week or two. If it were me I would actually wait 2 or 3 then add the cocoa nibs. Then another week or two before bottling.

 

[Chet zaremski]

The krausen on my latest Blonde Ale hasn't fallen and it's been two weeks since brew day. I agree with @kh54s10, leave it be for a while longer, another week or two. If it were me I would actually wait 2 or 3 then add the cocoa nibs. Then another week or two before bottling.

I appreciate the feedback. I will let it sit another 2 weeks then add the nibs and bottle two weeks after that.