Dumping cider yeast?

[blekk]

Hi all,

Just wondering if any cider makers here remove the yeast from their brews and if so when do you do it? My ferment has slowed and a cheeky taste reveals a slight yeast note so was wondering about dumping out the settled yeast for the remainder of the ferment.

Cheers all for your opinions

 

[Dae Tripper]

Hey there Blair. The term would be "racking". The idea is to remove the brew from the yeast cake by moving to another vessel. Like you say it can be done after the majority of the fermentation is complete, but remember to not let it come into contact with much air so using a tube from the tap going to the bottom of the next vessel is the go. Don't go just tipping it in.
Personally I wouldn't do it till 14 odd days. This way most of the fermentation will be complete and most of the yeast dropped out. I think the key is ageing cider as long as possible, so racking should help this process out a bit.
Hope your brew tastes great!!!

 

[blekk]

Hey there Blair. The term would be "racking". The idea is to remove the brew from the yeast cake by moving to another vessel. Like you say it can be done after the majority of the fermentation is complete, but remember to not let it come into contact with much air so using a tube from the tap going to the bottom of the next vessel is the go. Don't go just tipping it in.
Personally I wouldn't do it till 14 odd days. This way most of the fermentation will be complete and most of the yeast dropped out. I think the key is ageing cider as long as possible, so racking should help this process out a bit.
Hope your brew tastes great!!!

Hey Dae Tripper thanks for the great reply. I have a conical so it would be easier for me to remove (dump?) the yeast through the cone effectively the same process using a different method.

Good to know about the 14 days, I'll let it go a few more.

Thanks again

 

[Dae Tripper]

I don't have a conical (would be awesome though) but I thought the idea of them is to compact the yeast at the bottom so you can rack a fairly clean liquid. I think if you dump the yeast you will only waste more cider having it occupie the yeast space. Give it a bit longer and the yeast should start dropping out of suspension, then rack to a secondary container. Hope that helps.

 

[Nizmoose]

I thought the whole point of a conical was so that you could dump the yeast and get the effect of a rack without having to actually rack?

 

[doon]

Yeah you dont want to rack out of the conical and possibly introduce infection. Dump yeast out bottom. You may waste a little cider but better then whole batch

 

[Mutaneer]

I always rack off my ciders once they slow right down but still before completely finished

they will always bubble up again and expel any residual oxygen in the head-space, which is a good thing.
I've experienced no "yeasty" tastes leaving them on the residual yeast in the second fermenter for up to 6 weeks before bottling