Travel Schedule and Dry Hopping and Gelatin

[johnwpowell]

I have a 8.5% IPA that's been in the yeast for 2 weeks and is done. It needs a week of dry hopping after which I'd typically cold crash and add gelatin in the keg (closed transfer).

I've got only 5 days until I travel for 2 weeks. What's the best way to handle this?

I'm thinking of cold crashing over the next 3 days and then transfer into the keg with gelatin into cold storage. Then when I return, risk oxidation and open the keg and dry hop for 2 weeks cold.

What do you think?

 

[Pkrd]

I'd dry hop three days(thats plenty) then cold crash and gelatine, keg before you leave.


Actually this is why I like my stc1000+, because I could dry hop, then set it to cold crash some time while I'm away.

 

[65C]

why not just leave it until you get back - it won't take any harm - then dry hop at your leisure - it's only been on 2 weeks - I dry at 3 or 4 weeks normally anyway

people say about the 3 or 4 week primary thing - but it really does produce better beer for me

 

[johnwpowell]

What if I dry hop today and then cold crash before I leave Friday and let it cold crash for 2 weeks. That will be 5 weeks on the yeast, 5 days dry hopping at 60f and 2 weeks cold crashing.

 

[65C]

if you cold crash too early you'll stop yeast working?

if I've learned one thing so far - nothing good comes from rushing beer

 

[imasickboy]

why not just leave it until you get back - it won't take any harm - then dry hop at your leisure - it's only been on 2 weeks - I dry at 3 or 4 weeks normally anyway

people say about the 3 or 4 week primary thing - but it really does produce better beer for me

if you cold crash too early you'll stop yeast working?

if I've learned one thing so far - nothing good comes from rushing beer

I agree with these posts 100%.

 

[johnwpowell]

Ok so maybe just leave in the fermenter till I get back.

 

[Pkrd]

why not just leave it until you get back

Because coming home to a fresh keg is awesome.

 

[chickypad]

Because coming home to a fresh keg is awesome.

Agreed, and the fresher the better for an IPA. I vote dry hop now, cold crash one day if you must, then keg.

 

[johnwpowell]

I've got a plan b now. I've started the dry hop today and I've got someone that can come crash the brew in a week. It'll be cold crashing for about a week and a half. I'll keg it and be drinking it about 3 days after I get back.