Fermenting fridge

[mattjazz2000]

O.K, I've had my brew in the fermenting fridge I've built at 19c for a few days now, I'm going to keg into cornys so what would the best process be. i.e. how long at 19c (I was thinking a fortnight) and then what sort of temperature for clearing before kegging?

[Kev888]

Assuming its an ale yeast then it should be at your preferred fermenting temperatures until fermentation has ended, then you can drop it down to around zero for a few days to help it clear and settle out.

For me its fairly rare to have the main fermentation go beyond 10days even for cool high-ish gravity batches with a first generation yeast, so I usually find it okay to ferment and then chill both within two weeks - unless I'm dry hopping and want to steep those for longer, in which case its usually three. This suits me as I mostly do beer stuff at weekends and a few extra days helping it to drop clear is no bad thing in my view. It could be faster and so some people would disagree with this schedule, but personally I prefer to just leave the beer alone until I'm ready, rather than keep measuring each batch - risking infection and pandering to exactly when it is finished.

Cheers
Kev

[greenxpaddy]

+1

3 weeks is my ideal timeframe before racking

[mark4newman]

Hi

I think it all depends on how healthy your yeast was ,the starter size, and how well oxygenated the wort was.

My brews, are fermeneted out in a max of four days. Just used Super yeast, and it was done in 2.5 days. (lp001 normally takes 4 days nottingham 3days (2Packs), and this was on an OG 1.60.

So, my shedule is approx 3 days ferment, a couple of days to let it start to clear. Then add dry hops (if that is what I want). On day ten I then chill to 1-3C, and then on the 14day day it is kegged.

[rval]

Hi guys, sorry to hijack Matt.

I have just finished by brew fridge and have been reading over the various topics regarding the timing and usage. I have a question, I rack from primary to bottle and wanted to know if I drop the temp down to around zero for a few days will the yeast that I use to carbonate drop out as well (I prime with brewing sugar)?

Edit: I am using second/third generation Nottingham yeast that has been cleaned. (first yeast was dried format)

[mark4newman]

Hi

You will have no problem carbonating.

Mark

[daz c]

They will be plenty of yeast left in suspension to carbonate it .I always drop the temp down to 2oc before racking off to a cornie i usually have 3 or so litres left which I transfer into bottles with priming sugar leave at 20oc for a week then drop it to 10oc for another two weeks to settle the yeast .The bottles have plenty of sparkle.

daz

[rval]

Thanks guys. Big help.
I am very much looking forward to getting on with using the fridge.

[mattjazz2000]

Thanks all for the info. I've just taken a reading of 1012 so will check again tomorrow and see how it's doing. the o.g was 1038 and I used safeale04 yeast so I would think it should get down to 1010?