Racking off a TC

[timothio]

OK, just a couple of quickies about racking off my TC when the time comes...

I've seen it suggested that when you rack off a TC you can add an extra litre of AJ. I'm guessing this will cause secondary fermentation, right? If I do this, do I wait until this secondary fermentation has finished before bottling? And when I come to bottling, will there be enough yeast left in the TC to add some fizz if I prime the bottles with more AJ or a wee bit of sugar (I guess this will cause a third fermentation)? Or if I want fizz in my bottles, should I just rack off the TC without adding anything, leave it for a week or so to clear a bit, then bottle and prime with AJ / sugar? Or forget about racking off altogether and just bottle / prime it straight from the FV?

I used plain old bread yeast, a good teaspoon to 4 litres of AJ.

Thanks in anticipation!! (and to think, I thought this TC business was gonna be easy...)

[lollypopp]

Hi tim, think you can do both, I'm going to syphone mine into another DJ, with a little AJ, leave for a few days then bottles, and again with some juice in the bottom, mine will go into 1/2 Litre coke bottle, which I guess I leave for a week, have heart, I'm sure it will be well worth it? lol! Oh just a guess, but I bet your Apple gratings are not doing a titanic yet?

[timothio]

Hmm, I wasnt sure if there would be enough yeast left for a 3rd fermentation, especially as its just plain old bread yeast I'm using.

Oh just a guess, but I bet your Apple gratings are not doing a titanic yet?

Nah, still floating there like a nasty, thick, rotting, grated apple oil slick... I've taken to giving it a Paddington Bear hard stare every half hour or so in the hope that it might detect my disapproval and act on it, but doesnt seem to be working so far...

[lollypopp]

I found a Mac-Donald straw in one of our draws in the kitchen, so! I gently pulled the bung out and pushed it thru' the slick as you call it! and had a little suck, must say Tim, it tasted bloody good! you should give yours ago, I think you might be impressed? I think Dreadskin and PMH have something, I'd like Fatbloke to take a look in and put his tuppenys worth in too!

[randomdave]

I rack my TC leave for about 3 days to settle then add a ltr of AJ just before bottling to prime. The past 4 ive done have been a decent fizzy thirst quencher.

[Mitchamitri]

If you have solids in there and floury lees you are best racking off at least twice - remember that used bread yeast does not settle in the bottom of the demijohn anything like as well as a proper brewers yeast. With low pectin fruit and a good brewers yeast your drink would be crystal clear without finings or filtration (you will get a good drink with bread yeast but I do think its worth the outlay for brewer's).

Suggest you top up with AJ and let it ferment out, then prime each bottle with sugar to get your fizz (if you must), thisll give you a higher alcohol content as well. The extra AJ should cause a secondary fermentation (actually its most likely a reinvigoration of the first), it will get going a bit slower though..

ps dont know your experience but make sure you don't use wine bottles for fizzy drinks!!!

[timothio]

Cheers Mitch n Dave, my TC's are still bubbling away in their initial fermentation stage, the carpet of grated apple still hasnt dropped almost 2 weeks on... Still, I guess it doesnt really matter if I rack off now and add more juice, fermentation will just continue, as long as I dont bottle right now, I'd risk bursted bottles...

How's yours going Lollypop? Have you racked off yet? I still havent tasted mine yet, I think I'm actually scared of it...

[lollypopp]

Yes,Tim I've racked of, not easy to syphone I might add, but I've now got myself one of those push pump type, made it a breeze! and I have a hydrometre floating in there, the OG was 1060, it's just about 1000, so I calculate that to be about ABV 8%, I reckon Tim it's hight time you did yours to, would help with getting it of that sediment, just leave the apple slick behind, I did, and that was on wednesday night, put another litre of AJ to bring the level up, and it went mad for a while, but is slowing down now for sure! still murky though!