The Stages Of Fermentation

[usastman]

Hi guys,

Have not brewed for a few years - in the mean time have aquired all the equipment for kegging - kegerator - taps etc....

Juts put down an extract brew - unhopped wheat beer that I hopped and used a good wyeast strain.

The question - from my memory after the main part of the fermentation has occured the head disispates and fall to the bottom of the fermenter. I have had the brew bubbling away for about a week now. By now I would of expected the head to have dissipated and fallen to the bottom.

I still have an inch of head with still some airlock activity. I am assuming that it is probably still fermenting away.

1. Am I correct to believe the head will fall away - I possibly thought that as it is a wheat beer fermentatin may take longer to ferment?

Cheers Usastman

 

[Effect]

I've had beers with a low krausen that was there for weeks (Belgian Abbey II, London Ale).

It doesn't have to mean it is still fermenting. Best way to find out is with a hydrometer or refractometer (and a brew program). Same reading 2-3 days in a row would suggest it has hit terminal gravity.

Wheat beers can finish within 4 days, so if you pitched healthy yeast (and enough) I'd say that it is finished, and as you are kegging, it won't matter if it still has a small amount of sugar left to munch through, unless you warm your keg up again - hence the importance of a hydrometer.

Cheers
Phil

 

[raven19]

Wheat beer krausen can stay for a longer period. My last one shot through the airlock!

As per Philip's comment, check the gravity with a hydrometer and it stable around the 1008 - 1012 mark for 2 - 3 days its ready to keg.

Welcome back to the world of brewing!

 

[usastman]

Wheat beer krausen can stay for a longer period. My last one shot through the airlock!

As per Philip's comment, check the gravity with a hydrometer and it stable around the 1008 - 1012 mark for 2 - 3 days its ready to keg.

Welcome back to the world of brewing!

Thanks guys - I got a 30l fermenter and it did go nuts for a day or so. There still is some activity - will check with a hydrometer.

Just got back into it - once this one done have 2 more to go down.

Working with unhopped extract that I hop and using wyeast - but invaribly heading towards all grain.....