Re: Is it done yet?

[Chimerix]

Re: Is it done yet?

We're now at the end of day 3 of intensive love and attention. Every morning, feed, stir and aerate. Every evening, stir and aerate.

This whole process has been rewarding. While the airlock is pretty quiet for an hour or 2 after my ministrations, by the time it's mucking about time again, that thing's boiling away at 15-20 bpm! It's been a real challenge for me not to post twice a day simply saying "It's still working!"

The SG dropped to 1.062 when I pitched the starter, a change I attribute to adding half a gallon of liquid. (I know, the idea was to drain off some of the starter liquid and pitch the slurry, but the yeast were pretty much suspended, and by the time I had racked off that old sediment, there was about a half-gallon of space.)

Now that I've got a healthy, happy yeast population situated, do I just leave it be? I'm actually capable of leaving it alone, as long as things are progressing as they should! I figure I won't touch it until the blips slow down noticeably, then I'll start with weekly gravity checks.

 

[Oskaar]

Re: Is it done yet?

...snip
Things to wish for:
-a more effective way to stir 5 gallons of must inside a carboy. A racking cane is awkward, and my siphon starter works well but steals about a cup of must every dip.
-an airlock lid with a 2nd hole big enough for a 5/8" hose. I'd love to be able to just leave the aeration stone in there for the next few days, and plug in the pump at will....snip

See here for a lees stirrer which is what I use. You may also use a long handled plastic mixing spoon available at most LHBS that I've seen. Instead of using the spoon side, use the handle end. It works very well as well. I like the lees stirrer the best. You may also want to get the Northern Brewer Mix/Stir which is a stainless steel rod, with the plastic propellers on the bottom, as opposed to a fully plastic device.

You've fed your must enough nutrient, keep up the oxygenation, but only in doses of about five minutes at a time.

That should help,

Oskaar

 

[Chimerix]

Re: Is it done yet?

You've fed your must enough nutrient, keep up the oxygenation, but only in doses of about five minutes at a time.

I'm taking you literally, and aerating, but not stirring (or feeding, obviously). How long should I keep this up? At some point, won't I start running the risk of (gasp) oxidization? :sad4:

Thanks for the tips on the stirring. I don't think I'm quite ready to add power tools into the equation, but I do like the idea of the inverted spoon. I'm starting to develop an idea for a "brew cart" that would have casters, hold up to 4 carboys, have a power strip attached and either drawers or hanging space for all the little things you regularly need. Maybe when this idea comes to fruition, I'll come back to the power stirrer!

 

[Chimerix]

Re: Is it done yet?

Project update:

2/11/07

It's still boiling away, although the rate has slowed a bit. We're down to about 12 bpm. SG is down to 1.030 / 4% / 8

It's no longer cloying, not even all that sweet. There is a yeasty taste, but it is a lot less pronounced than I expected given how active the fermentation is.

 

[Chimerix]

Re: Is it done yet?

project update, 2/22

Airlock activity down to around 4 bps

SG 1.016
pH 4.0

 

[Chimerix]

Re: Is it done yet?

3/17

SG 1.014 / 3% / 3
pH 3.58

Oh... so THAT'S what they mean by "clear." Wow... this is beautiful. A gently undulating plain of yeast under a golden amber sea!

Taste is very alcoholic, not much else. I'm about to tie up my other 5 gallon carboy with a Heffeweizen, but once that's bottled, I'll rack this beauty over to get it off the lees. I have some oak chips... any thoughts about whether I should do that when I rack, or give this some time to come into its own first?