hi guys new brewer here been reading palmars book and enjoying it I pithed yeast yesterday and in a few hours a yeast cake formed on the bottom after 2 or three hours before any Krausen or anything why is yeast cake forming so fast for ale yeast ? I thought it was a top fermenting yeast. Also I thought floccuatuon is final step according to palmar if so why do yeast cakes form so early on in the process ?
Yeast cake question
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I'd imagine what you're witnessing is the growth phase, it doesn't float until the CO2 starts getting produced. The actual fermentation phase (and krausen) should commence shortly. RDWHAHB
+1 to the above. Also keep in mind what you're seeing form on the bottom of the bucket isn't just yeast, it's also proteins and break material (aka trub) that due to their weight will naturally fall to the bottom. Once the yeast start producing co2 you will see your krausen start to form. Patience, padawan!
That would be trub ( all of the proteins and hop debris you transferred from your kettle.) settling out, not yeast. Once the yeast finishes fermenting, given time, that trub will settle out and compact along with the yeast. It might take longer for the beer to drop clear, but it shouldn't affect the flavor.
