Autolysis

[jsmurphy]

Have any of you ever encountered this with your brews? I racked into bottles yesterday, and my beer had a slight rubber smell, which sounds like autolysis.
I was in primary for 3 days, secondary for 5 days, FG was right about where it was supposed to be. Temp in fermenter room was about 70*. Lag time to primary was about 9 hours, so the yeast seemed to be healthy. From what I've read, it doesn't seem like the beer was sitting on the dead yeast in secondary long enough for autolysis to effect it.

Any thoughts, experiences with this problem? I guess I'll know more when I sample one in about a week.

Also, I'm storing my bottled beer at room temperature for now. Should I move it to the fridge after two weeks, or sooner?

[ray m]

I have never, myself, had problems with autolysis. If it's any comfort, I have Belgian & English strong ales 1 year old in my cellar (temp @ 65*). Tried one of each recently & no hint of autoysis off-flavors. I also usually average 1 1/2 to 2 weeks of conditioning in the 2ndary before bottling and nary a problem, either. I think your beer is probably still just a bit "green" (young) and, being relatively new to homebrewing, you're probably just getting paranoid (like I did when I was once a young lad). What kind of brew is it? If you primed with corn sugar, 1 week is probably a bit soon to sample one & expect good carbonation. I usually have to wait at least 2 weeks (and usually closer to 3 weeks) before proper carbonation has developed in my beer---that probably has something to do with the length of time I leave it in 2ndary---lots more yeast settles out). If you are absolutely certain that all your fermentation has ended (I'm just a little concerned with just a 3 day primary & 5 day 2ndary), I think you'll be OK. Try to wait @ 2 weeks before sampling a bottle. Leave all bottles at room temperature. When you're ready to sample one, then place in fridge a day or so before opening. I would say all your beer can go in the fridge after 3 weeks or so, or when you are certain carbonation is where you want it.

[jsmurphy]

Thanks ray. It's an American Pale Ale, using liquid Wyeast 1056. Primary was definately finished at 3 days. FG readings were stable and consistant after the 4th day in secondary. OG was 1.054, FG 1.015. I primed with the sugar that came in the kit.

I'll wait at least 2 weeks before sampling as you suggested. I'm hope I'm just being paranoid and everything will be fine.

[brewmonkey]

Murph-

With that short a periodof time I would doubt autolysis is what you are experiencing. Autolysis is something you will generally find when a batch is allowed to sit in primary on its yeast for to long.

That is one of the reasons you see breweries with uni-tanks. The brewer can blow down the yeast keeping as much of it away from the beer as possible.