when to aerate

[rexeisenberg]

question,
after the wort has been cooled and syphoning is underway, i have heard different answers on when to aerate. i have aerated by letting the wort splash into the fermentation... Some people say that is bad, my father-in-law has no splash and aerates after it is in the primary by pouring into another fermenter to get it going. is there a wrong answer.
also, does anybody pitch before or after aerating. i've done both with no obvious issues. (aerating without a bubbler)..
cheers :rolleyes:

[YamahaXS]

Aeration should occur after the beer is cooled below 80F and before the yeast is pitched.

IF you wort is too hot, you'll get hotside aeration...not good for the flavor profile.

IF your wort already has alcohol in it, you'll get oxidation.


I wouldn't worry if you accidently splash or spray when you shouldn't but obviously you should try to avoid doing so.

[danno]

I know that Chris Colby has preached about HSA here, but did you know that AB actually forces air through their hot wort as part of their clarifying process? whatever flaws AB has, I'm fairly sure HSA isn't one of them...

I also have oxygenated both before and (right) after pitching, doesn't seem to make a bit of difference...

I'd actually venture that both yours and your FIL's methods could actually stand more aeration. you can't over-aerate or oxygenate, the excess just comes out of suspension...

[YamahaXS]

http://byo.com/mrwizard/897.html

here's a nice beer wizard column on hot side aeration.

I tend to agree with Danno, HSA is not something that I fret over. However, as a general rule, I try to minimize splashing except for when I am intentionally aerating the wort.

[rexeisenberg]

thanks for the info,
i just brewed an ag bitter, which is ripping away, and have pitched before, during, and after aerating... hasn't made much of a difference. i haven't had much of problem with fermentation when aerating using the poor to different buckets a few times to get er done. maybe a O2 bubbler is a good bet.
cheers