It Slowed To 40 Second Intervals! Now What?!?!?

[fretlessman71]

LAST CHANCE! DO I RACK TO SECONDARY IF IT'S THIS SLOW, OR DO I WAIT UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT WHEN I GET BACK? I'M LEAVING AT THE BUTTCRACK OF DAWN TOMORROW!

isn't the size function cool? *I* think so....

For those interested, check out the earlier thread entitled, "Question about my first batch of homebrew..." Thanks!

[b3s]

the more important questions, fret, are:

has the krausen fallen?
have you achieved at least 80% of your expected attenuation?
is there a lot (i.e. 1" or more) of trub at the bottom of the primary?


that's what i base my racking on...is it mostly fermented out (since the secondary is more for conditioning), krausen gone, or lots of trub.

[wortchillergoal]

I would wait. I probably have a habit of leaving it too long. Not that I pick up off flavors, it is just I always seem to be involed with my boys. I can't complain about that. TRUST US, YOU WILL MAKE GOOD BEER.

[Jughead]

Put your ear to the side of the primary and listen to what the beer tells you. If you feel the beer would be happier in the secondary, then rack now. Otherwise wait.

Next time you make a similar batch, do the opposite and see what the difference is. Call it an experiment.

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by Jughead
Put your ear to the side of the primary and listen to what the beer tells you. If you feel the beer would be happier in the secondary, then rack now. Otherwise wait.

Next time you make a similar batch, do the opposite and see what the difference is. Call it an experiment.

You been reading Fred Eckhardt?

[axis714]

I just couldnt stand the wait...my primary is not see through and my secondary is glass and being the big "BUBBLE WATCHER" i am i like to rack a little early just to watch it bobble my airlock....but thats just me Im fascinated by shiny things....can never wait to watch fermentables go up and down in the big jug :D

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by b3s
the more important questions, fret, are:

has the krausen fallen?
have you achieved at least 80% of your expected attenuation?
is there a lot (i.e. 1" or more) of trub at the bottom of the primary?


that's what i base my racking on...is it mostly fermented out (since the secondary is more for conditioning), krausen gone, or lots of trub.

Using a plastic bucket; forgot to take OG before I pitched yeast. I know; I'm no fun at all.....

[fretlessman71]

Can I pull up the lid and LOOK at it? No worries about contamination there?

[danno]

fretlessman: in the immortal words of Charlie Papazan, "relax, don't worry, have a homebrew"....

yes, you can look. your beer si still producing co2, whick blankets it and keeps it safe...

[fretlessman71]

OK, OK, I'm relaxing. Phew!

Now, which one of you was going to send me a homebrew....? ;)

[fretlessman71]

Just checked it! Still lots of krausen - at least 2" or so. Guess that settles it, then! We'll have another look when we get back home.

This is SO FREAKIN' COOL....... :D

[b3s]

that's ok, fret, about the OG...i occasionally forget myself :)

but i never, ever, ever rack until the krausen has fallen and the top of the beer is relatively foam free...that's usually a decent indicator that you've gotten about 80% or more of your attenuation.

and opening a bucket is just fine...or even just pulling the stopper and looking in. CO2 is heavier than air, so you don't really risk infection...and even then....

relax, don't worry, have a homebrew

[kevin]

once you get some homebrews under your belt it will amaze you at how relax or lazy you can get, I got one to bottle and two to rack and more to brew.. I need to get busy empting these bottles

relax Im gonna drink a homebrew for you

[danno]

fretlessman, I have one question for you, 463 posts and you're on your first batch of homebrew? :D

If you want to see something really cool, try doing a primary ferment in a glass carboy. I find it fascinating to watch the yeast do its thing, gyrating, swimming all over, very cool....

[paul84043]

I was watching my Fat Tire Amber Ale yesterday in the primary. It's amazing, like there's a blender in there somewhere just churning things up.

Fretless,
If you're bubble rate slowed down, but you still had 2 inches of kreusen, then you were definitely leaking past the rim of your plastic bucket. It should keep actively bubbling at a pretty good rate as long as there's a noticeable layer of foam.
I'd wait.
Glass carboys give you much better control and "feedback" on your brew....
Don't stress, it's all aging time no matter how you look at it.
It will definitely be ready to rack after the Thanksgiving holiday, no questions asked.
It only takes about 30 minutes to rack, start to finish. Especially if you have an autosiphon...
(I'm lazy...)
Try to remember to take a gravity reading while racking....(can you say...sample...??)
Your beer will still be "green", but you will get a real good idea of what it's going to be like when it's done.

Have you picked out your second batch yet?
If not, you had better get on it!
I have 3 going now and ordered 2 more from AHS today.... a "Robust Porter", and a "Six Malt Ale"....that six malt ale sounds GOOD!!!!
I'll be brewin up a batch this weekend and next, and bottling my Guiness clone next weekend as well!!
Give me three weeks and I'll have all 8 of my fermenters busy again!!

That's 16+ cases of beer....can you say "sick puppy???"

:D

[DarCoop]

If you want to see something really cool, try doing a primary ferment in a glass carboy. I find it fascinating to watch the yeast do its thing, gyrating, swimming all over, very cool.... [/B][/QUOTE]

GLad to see I am not the only one amazed at watching the yeast work in carboy. I just started brewing at begining of Novemeber but I am hooked. Spent about 15 minutes earlier watching bubbles.

[GunNut76]

Paul...you are not sick here is my plan:

1. Get 5 gallon starter kit from LHBS
2. Start first 5 gallon batch
3. When first batch is ready to rack go and buy glass carboy
4. Clean bucket from first batch and start a new one
5. Repeat untill 6'x4' closet is full and start drinking!

Probably been done before but I'm sick of macros, but I still gotta drink 'em...need the bottles!

[fretlessman71]

I'll spend 5 minutes ALONE just watching the airlock! You SURE I can't do this in a plastic carboy?

[GunNut76]

Is your primary a plastic carboy or a bucket? Well either way it doesn't really matter you should have an airlock on top to count bubbles or I misunderstood your question.

[fretlessman71]

I have an opaque white food grade plastic bucket with a lid - remember, I have a Brewer's Best Kit. But... I ALSO have several plastic carboys that usually has bottled water in them (Culligan, if I remember correctly). If a plastic bucket will still make good beer, is there a reason that my clear-ish plastic carboy WON'T?

[GunNut76]

HELL YEAH that is exactly what I use...a 3 gallon water jug (slightly modified)...for my primary and have no problems with it. I do however use glass for my secondary, but that is just me

[fretlessman71]

I'm trying to do this on a budget here... and anything I have around the house counts! I saw stoppers and airlocks tonight; almost bought one. We'll see....

[GunNut76]

A 1 gallon glass jug is just under $4 at my LHBS. Is your "clear-ish" carboy "blue-ish"? If it is it is probably the same material as mine. These are tough SOBs and very hard to scratch, but dont try to scratch it on purpose. Well I'm gonna brew tomorrow...a honey ale.

[paul84043]

The glass carboys really aren't that expensive. You can get a 6.5 gal for around 16$ if you shop around, 20 if you don't. Add the stopper and a handle, you're up to a whopping 25$.
5 gal ones are about 5$ less.

I would try to move away from the plastic carboys if possible. You'll probaby get away with it for a while, but it seems to me to be a guaranteed infection eventually.

[S.F.B.]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
OK, OK, I'm relaxing. Phew!

Now, which one of you was going to send me a homebrew....? ;)

I know you have at least one around your house.

[mortong]

Originally posted by paul84043
The glass carboys really aren't that expensive. You can get a 6.5 gal for around 16$ if you shop around, 20 if you don't. Add the stopper and a handle, you're up to a whopping 25$.
5 gal ones are about 5$ less.

I would try to move away from the plastic carboys if possible. You'll probaby get away with it for a while, but it seems to me to be a guaranteed infection eventually.

Where do you get carboys for that cheap? Is that not factoring the cost of shipping and handling?

My LHBS (the nearest one for a few hundred miles), sells the 6.5 gallon for $30 and the 5 gallon for $20.

Do you have any internet links for places that cost that much including shipping?

I'm planning on spending the $30 each to get one or two glass primaries in early january, but if I can get them cheaper I will!

[b3s]

from my local LHBS (www.thebrewhut.com):
6.5 gallon glass carboy -> $21.95
5 gallon glass carboy -> $17.95

another local LHBS (www.beerathome.com):
6.5 gallon glass carboy -> $22.00
5 gallon glass carboy -> $17.50

[paul84043]

It sounds like your HB store has a bit of a markup? The prices B3s posted are pretty standard. I get a bit of a break from my HB store because I spend so much money there!

AHS (austinhomebrew.com) ships free when your order is over 60$.

[GunNut76]

I can get a 15 gallon glass Demi-John for $45 from my LHBS...wow.

[Tweek]

I think it is pretty funny that your handle is fretlessman, seems like it should be tons of fret or something along those lines :)

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Tweek
I think it is pretty funny that your handle is fretlessman, seems like it should be tons of fret or something along those lines :)

I think in his case it refers to his bass guitar not his state of mind.

[toneyc]

280997 votes? OK, who voted twice?

:eek:
Toney.

[axis714]

morebeer.com ships free over 49$ even lower free shipping than austin homebrew and id almost bet fretless man refers to a bass guitar he may be playing? am i right?

[Tweek]

Im sure you guys are right about the bass. I was just poking fun at him a little for being such a worrier. :D

[fretlessman71]

Yep... it IS a fretless bass. An Ibanez 3006 SoundGear 6 string, to be precise. Not bad for $1000!

(Now you know why I can't afford to spend too much on HB Equipment...)

Hanging out in Homestead, FL, for the holidays... and AWAY from my carboy, so any worrying I might be doing about it is all for naught anyway. This could be a good thing, you know? It will be deeeelish when it's done, I'm sure.

Enjoying the 85 degree weather here, and wondering why I can't see my breath. Looks like I'll get to see all of you again Sunday night when we're home! Happy Turkey Day everyone, and thanks again for all of your help!

[axis714]

I thought so! I play an ibanez rg-560 guitar myself had it for 15 yrs wouldnt trade it for a new 1 . hey! bass humor.....you know how a bass player gets into a party?





follows the drummer:D

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by axis714
I thought so! I play an ibanez rg-560 guitar myself had it for 15 yrs wouldnt trade it for a new 1 . hey! bass humor.....you know how a bass player gets into a party?

follows the drummer:D

I play an old Kramer electric.

Guitar player joke: How many guitar players does it take screw in a light bulb?



16 - one to screw it in and 15 to stand around and talk about how much better they could do it.

[mortong]

Sounds like I'll be better off ordering if most places have free shipping over $50-60. I'm planning on getting two 6.5 gallon carboys. If I add some DME to that I'll easily get it over that price pretty quickly - and save a good chunk of change.

[paul84043]

There are only a few places that offer the free shipping, luckily one of them is a top notch store (Austinhomebrew.com) There are places that do it as a "special" on occasion, but AHS does it all the time.

I would strongly recommend patronizing your local homebrew shop as a first step, unless like many, it's just too far away.

I should be recieving two more kits from AHS today! I'm excited....this is as close to christmas as I get, and it's all year long!!!

[mortong]

I'd love to go for my LHBS first, but I don't feel too bad because:

1. I've spent close to $1000 there in the past four months

2. Two 6.5 gallon carboys there will cost me $64.86, as compared to $49.98.

[paul84043]

Screw that.....order online....or you could offer them the option of retaining your business for this particular purchase and price match...I don't know if it would be worth your time or not, it may just piss them off. But you know full well that they all get thier supplies from the same place and they ultimately all pay the same price for them.

[S.F.B.]

Originally posted by mortong
I'd love to go for my LHBS first, but I don't feel too bad because:

1. I've spent close to $1000 there in the past four months

2. Two 6.5 gallon carboys there will cost me $64.86, as compared to $49.98.

Damn! Hey, I'm all for supporting the local guy but that's ridiculous. Buy online and save the $15. Your local is obviously trying to put the screw to you on this one.

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by paul84043
Screw that.....order online....or you could offer them the option of retaining your business for this particular purchase and price match...I don't know if it would be worth your time or not, it may just piss them off. But you know full well that they all get thier supplies from the same place and they ultimately all pay the same price for them.

That may not be the case. A business can get pricing breaks based on the number of units they agree to buy. Someone doing business online may go out on a limb and purchase a large quanity of an item to get a good price break. Also. a business located in a heavier populated area may take more units as he as a larger customer base to draw upon. This is one reason why so many local shops have a hard time staying in business and matching prices.

I know people have to watch what they spend. I feel that if the price difference is not that great. buy local. I am blessed as my store of choice has a great staff.

[GunNut76]

From my LHBS I can get a 5 gallon glass carboy for $16.95 and a 6.5 gallon for $22...that seems reasonable to me.

[b3s]

oh, and don't forget...while they may get similar pricing (bulk discount not accounted for), many stores have varying degrees of upkeep.

i'm sure the square footage costs for LHBSs vary from, say, downtown NYC and, um, Tensleep, CO.

plus, some of the less expensive places seem to be in areas where there is little or no income tax (go figure).

then there is the mail order only (just needs a warehouse or a garage) and the actual store that does mail order.

shipping costs also vary from place to place as well (for instance, williams brewing charges a flat fee under $100 of $5.50 and free above that for west of the mississippee, while their shipping for east of the mississippee is nearly as complex as the irs income tax tables!).

[axis714]

Q. What do you call a bass player with a beeper?
A. An optimist.


Q. What do you call a bass player on the front porch?
A. The pizza delivery guy

Q - Why did the Bass Player cross the road?
A - Because he heard the chicken was a slut.

sry couldnt resist the bass humor...lol

[BeerBelly]

I try to patronize my LHBS as much as I can but.... they sell online also and, for example, a True Brew extract kit is 19.95 online and is 24.95 in the store. I asked why the price was different, they said it is to give the online buyers a break for shipping. Well if they want to give the online buyers a break that is fine, I can be an online buyer also. But their shipping charges are outrageous, so I am forced to order most of my supplies through Austin Homebrew. I still get a few items there just to give them some business.

BB

[GunNut76]

The prices in the catalog and the store are the same for my LHBS. They don't jack up the prices and then offer free shiping, they sell for a decent profit and charge you what UPS or FedEx charges them.

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by BeerBelly
I try to patronize my LHBS as much as I can but.... they sell online also and, for example, a True Brew extract kit is 19.95 online and is 24.95 in the store. I asked why the price was different, they said it is to give the online buyers a break for shipping. Well if they want to give the online buyers a break that is fine, I can be an online buyer also. But their shipping charges are outrageous, so I am forced to order most of my supplies through Austin Homebrew. I still get a few items there just to give them some business.

BB Well, just like every other walk of life, there are some business people that care more about the dollars than anything. I sould have added in my ealier post, the local shop needs to earn my business, it sounds like yours believes he deserves the business with no work.

[fretlessman71]

Racked to 2ndary... SG is 1.020 @ 74 degrees! Is this too high? The kit called for FG of 1.012 or so. When I cleaned out the primary bucket, it seemed like there was a lot of yeast that was just sitting on the bottom, sort of unused. Should I repitch in the 2ndary?

[Tweek]

no dont put the trub into the secondary. Getting off that junk was the reason you transfered in the first place. Let it finish up on its own. The last few points are always the slowest.

[paul84043]

Sounds like it's going just fine. Give it a week in the secondary and take another reading. If it's close, wait a couple days and take another, if it has leveled out, you're ready to bottle.
Two weeks to carbonate ought to have you popping open some HB for christmas!

[b3s]

you won't get full attenuation out of the primary...i usually shoot for about 80% of my full attenuation out of primary. as tweek mentioned, the last 20% or so is always the slowest.

[fretlessman71]

In true worry wort porter fashion... here's ANOTHER question...

Should the trub look and smell like live, dormant yeast? I kind of felt like I could have salvaged some of that and kept it for the next batch. I also felt that it was a little TOO cold in the area where I had the primary, and maybe I killed off the yeast before its time. Whatcha think?

[b3s]

it should smell yeasty...some folks save the trub if they are making back to back batches of the same beer (in fact, i recall a post by fast_eddy where he very quickly brewed up a beer and poured the wort into his fermenter right on top of the trub).