Star San-Induced Yeast Activity

[arp]

So I brewed a Pliny the Elder clone, and when I added the hops (in a hop bag) to dry hop, it looks like fermentation happened again and a kruasen started building up on top of the beer. These are the facts:

- Brewed on 1/24 with OG of 1.080 (target: 1.074) and pitched a single packet of Safale US-05 dry to the fermenter.
- Transferred to secondary on 2/5, so 10 days in primary. Airlock activity had stopped a few days prior. I did not take gravity readings to check for consistency (I know, I know). Final gravity came in at 1.018 (target: 1.013)
- There was no yeast activity after transfer.
- Added hops in a hop bag on 2/8, 3 days after transfer. The bag was soaked in a Star San solution to sanitize. It was wet with StarSan when I added it.
- On 2/10 I checked and saw yeast floating on top of the beer (along with the hop bag, doh!).
- After waiting patiently for almost 2 weeks for the yeast to drop, it's still there.

The link is a picture of the secondary right now. The white blob in the back is the floating hop bag. The dark areas on the yeast are just holes to the beer.

http://imgur.com/tpIlRvo

My questions:

- Is that in fact yeast on top, or is it an infection? Looks like yeast, but I'd like the be sure.
- Can Star San do this? I checked around and hadn't seen another example of it, but maybe I just suck at searching.
- Did I simply transfer before fermentation was done, and Star San kicked things up again?
- Will non-sinking yeast or a floating hop bag add off-flavors?

This has been perplexing me. I'm probably going to bottle it tomorrow (pending a taste test) but anything you guys could share would be awesome!

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I did a pliny clone, no chill because summer and too small hop bag. I used 2 packs us-05 and was fine but maybe mintish flavor. It was best at 1 week in bottle I thought but liked it after. The picture didn't work but I say bottle it or put in keg.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I just saw picture and not sure about that after this much time.

 

[arp]

That's what I'm saying - I think it was done, then I added a bag covered in Star San and it kicked the yeast into gear again. t should definitely be done by now. I'm just hoping it doesn't impart any off flavors!

 

[Durso81]

It is not uncommon for high gravity beers like the one your brewing to ferment out completely in 2-3 months. Also if you under pitched (didn't make a starter or use 2 packs of yeast), the fermentation will take longer, and it is also dependent on the temps as well because in colder temps the yeast will be slower than at higher temps.

When you transferred the beer to secondary you could have stirred up the settled yeast to restart fermentation.

The only true way to know if fermentation is complete is with gravity readings.

Also pictures a little dark and hard to see but how does your beer smell, it doesn't smell sour or anything infected? I would take a sample smell and taste before bottling or kegging just to rule that out.