Separation in fermenter

[Mike-H]

I brewed a beer last night with the following:

6LB's Light DME
1LB Honey
Oats & Other grains
Cinnamin, Apple juice

I did a 50 minute boil

I seem to have severe separation in the fermenter that I have not seen before. Its been 12 hours and my yeast hasnt started up yet either. Anyone seen this before?

 

[dougjones31]

Describe the seperation.

Does it look like the wort has a 5-9" layer of real light(milky looking) wort at the top with normal looking wort below that and a layer of yeast on the bottom? If so everything is perfect and it will take off in a few more hours.

Yeast likes to take off in thinner wort. Using different adjuncts and sugars cause the wort to have thinner molecules that float to the top. The heavy float to the bottom and you get a nice seperation indication when the yeast colonizes the upper thinner wort. It will take off as soon as it gets enough swirling going on to mix up the wort.

It is very common for the yeast to take 24 hrs to start. Did you make a yeast starter?

 

[Mike-H]

Thanks doug, it looks thick and milky on the bottom and thin on the top.... The bottom is definitly thicker than the top. I did not make a starter.... I am not worried about the yeast starting as much as I am the "look" of the wort, since I dont use a starter I expect it to take a bit.

 

[Mike-H]

The bottom layer of thickness is about 1/3 of the carboy and the top, thinner layer is 2/3'rds of the carboy.

 

[uglygoat]

did you boil the honey?

 

[Mike-H]

Yes I boiled the honey

 

[dougjones31]

The bottom 1/3 looks thick because of the powdered cinnamon and oats that is in it. The cinnamon sinks but does not come completely out of suspension until after fermentation. The oats tend to make a bottom heavy wort with shorter boil times.


I would not worry.....as soon as it gets going it will all mix up fine.


Relax and pur a pint of that IPA that you have on tap. Then take a sip and daydream about how much better this apple cinnamon ale is going to be.

 

[Mike-H]

Thanks once again doug, I'll post my progress as soon as I have some! I gotta get my digicam out so I can take some pics.

 

[dougjones31]

Update???.........................................................................................

 

[Mike-H]

Sorry was away for the weekend. When I came back all is well, bubbling rapidly and all mixed up! You were right again

 

[dougjones31]

Most of the time a little extra time will straighten out minor issues. When you have stared at fermentations for 10 yrs, you learn that weird things happen.

Let us know how it turns out.