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Date: 11 Sep 2006 19:05:37
From:
Subject: Thar she blows!!!!
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Has this happened to any of you??
I am in the process of making a mini-mash belgian white. I used a
Wyeast activator pack pitched after using a starter. After 7 days the
activity slowed as expected.. but after racking it to the secondary
carboy, it was like the primary ferment started all over again. (made
a terrible mess in the basement!) It started bubbling out of control,
I had to put a blow off hose on. So now it is 9 + days out and its
still bubbling. Is this normal behavior? I doubt contamination as I
was REALLY meticulous about sterilizing everything... but who knows...
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Date: 11 Sep 2006 22:02:00
From: Wayne
Subject: Re: Thar she blows!!!!
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liddytime@gmail.com wrote:
> Has this happened to any of you??
>
> I am in the process of making a mini-mash belgian white. I used a
> Wyeast activator pack pitched after using a starter. After 7 days the
> activity slowed as expected.. but after racking it to the secondary
> carboy, it was like the primary ferment started all over again. (made
> a terrible mess in the basement!) It started bubbling out of control,
> I had to put a blow off hose on. So now it is 9 + days out and its
> still bubbling. Is this normal behavior? I doubt contamination as I
> was REALLY meticulous about sterilizing everything... but who knows...
>
I have noticed this in other belgian yeasts from time to time,
especially White Labs 565. It will ferment just fine for awhile and
then just "go to sleep" for about a week and then spontaneously start
up again. For that yeast, I just assume that will happen and I don't
worry about a stuck fermentation.
In your case, however, I suspect that your yeast may have flocculated
early. Once it has compacted onto the bottom of the fermenter,
fermentation will slow to the point to appear to be stopped. By
transferring to secondary, you have stirred yeast back into suspension
where it can start working again.
When choosing a yeast, check the flocculation characteristics. If it is
a high flocculating yeast, you should give your fermenter a gentle rock
to rouse the yeast every couple of days until you get to your expected
final gravity and then let it sit to settle out. This will take care of
the unexpected surprises.
Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
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Date: 12 Sep 2006 02:39:18
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Thar she blows!!!!
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On 11 Sep 2006 19:05:37 -0700, <liddytime@gmail.com > wrote:
> Has this happened to any of you??
>
> I am in the process of making a mini-mash belgian white. I used a
> Wyeast activator pack pitched after using a starter. After 7 days the
> activity slowed as expected.. but after racking it to the secondary
> carboy, it was like the primary ferment started all over again. (made
> a terrible mess in the basement!) It started bubbling out of control,
> I had to put a blow off hose on. So now it is 9 + days out and its
> still bubbling. Is this normal behavior? I doubt contamination as I
> was REALLY meticulous about sterilizing everything... but who knows...
It's common to get new activity in the secondary when you stir everything
up by racking. However, it's usually not as vigorous as you're describing.
I wouldn't worry about it since there's not much you can really do, but it
does sounds a little strange.
IMO, let it go, wait for activity to stop, and see how it turns out.
John.
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Date: 11 Sep 2006 19:28:30
From: Lefty Skywalker
Subject: Re: Thar she blows!!!!
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liddytime@gmail.com wrote:
> Has this happened to any of you??
>
> I am in the process of making a mini-mash belgian white. I used a
> Wyeast activator pack pitched after using a starter. After 7 days the
> activity slowed as expected.. but after racking it to the secondary
> carboy, it was like the primary ferment started all over again. (made
> a terrible mess in the basement!) It started bubbling out of control,
> I had to put a blow off hose on. So now it is 9 + days out and its
> still bubbling. Is this normal behavior? I doubt contamination as I
> was REALLY meticulous about sterilizing everything... but who knows...
It happened with my recent hefe, which smelled all right when I bottled it.
--
Daniel O. Miller
"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the
fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true
science. Whosoever does not know it and can no longer marvel, is as good
as dead, and his eyes are dimmed." - Albert Einstein
WWYD? (-o-) <* > Genesis 49:17
Real email address: darth dot lefty at golf mike able india lima.
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Date: 12 Sep 2006 12:17:41
From:
Subject: Re: Thar she blows!!!!
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Wayne wrote:
> I have noticed this in other belgian yeasts from time to time,
> especially White Labs 565. It will ferment just fine for awhile and
> then just "go to sleep" for about a week and then spontaneously start
> up again. For that yeast, I just assume that will happen and I don't
> worry about a stuck fermentation.
>
> In your case, however, I suspect that your yeast may have flocculated
> early. Once it has compacted onto the bottom of the fermenter,
> fermentation will slow to the point to appear to be stopped. By
> transferring to secondary, you have stirred yeast back into suspension
> where it can start working again.
>
> When choosing a yeast, check the flocculation characteristics. If it is
> a high flocculating yeast, you should give your fermenter a gentle rock
> to rouse the yeast every couple of days until you get to your expected
> final gravity and then let it sit to settle out. This will take care of
> the unexpected surprises.
>
> Wayne
> Bugeater Brewing Company
Thanks all!
9 days and still bubbling but I'll let it go and see what happens!
BL
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