Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Raising Ferm. temps  (Read 3900 times)

Offline flbrewer

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2161
Raising Ferm. temps
« on: November 16, 2014, 09:07:53 am »
My most recent extract kit mentions to "ferment at 68 for the bulk of fermentation, then ramping up to 72 to help achieve a high level of attenuation".

Can anyone explain when this ramp up should happen?

(The Yeast Bay, Vermont Ale Yeast)

Offline Stevie

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6858
Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2014, 09:14:09 am »
It's a bit of a try and see what works. With a new to me yeast I would start warming up after the krausen begins to subside. Day 4 or so. A degree or two a day if possible.

From what I have read about that strain, first gen tends to finish a bit high, and the second or third gen is a beast.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2014, 09:16:29 am by Steve in TX »

Offline dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4723
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2014, 09:21:08 am »
I must confess... I'm a bubble watcher... After the fermentation has been going strong, when the airlock bubbling slows to 3-6 bubbles per minute, then warm it up.
Dave

The world will become a much more pleasant place to live when each and every one of us realizes that we are all idiots.

Offline flbrewer

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2161
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2014, 09:28:37 am »
I made a starter with this, and fermentation started very quickly. Pitched around noon Saturday and it was chugging away by 6 AM Sunday AM (possibly well before that).

In fact, I can see that the krausen has already fallen. Will that matter as to when I change the temp?

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2014, 09:48:40 am »
For average strength beers I like to give it 72 hours, then ramp up slowly.  On bigger beers I do pretty much what Dave does - wait until visible fermentation signs start to dwindle and ramp slowly. A couple degrees F/day
up to 70 -75F works pretty well for me. I leave big beers at that temp for several days. As always, the yeast is boss - verify FG.
Jon H.

Offline Stevie

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6858
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2014, 10:01:45 am »
Normally my krausen will stick around for a 3-5 days. That yeast must be hungry. I've been meaning to order some, maybe now is the time as most the country is frozen.

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2014, 10:36:46 am »
I check gravity daily and ramp up once I see more or less linear attenuation/time. For ales, that's usually 2-3°P/day. The reasoning being that linear attenuation signals that the entire culture has exiting the aerobic phase, and that temperature in the anaerobic phase has much less of an impact on flavor.
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline flbrewer

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2161
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2014, 04:56:14 am »
Planning on letting the temps raise a bit today. My question is do I lower the temp again in a few days after this? I think the beer will be in the fermenter for another 2 weeks because of the secondary hop addition schedule.

Offline klickitat jim

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8604
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2014, 05:49:52 am »
In my opinion don't drop temps ever until all fermentation is complete. One exception being sour beers where lacto is pitched warm for a period of time, then temp is dropped to pitch sacrosanct or brett

Offline flbrewer

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2161
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2014, 05:51:10 am »
In my opinion don't drop temps ever until all fermentation is complete. One exception being sour beers where lacto is pitched warm for a period of time, then temp is dropped to pitch sacrosanct or brett

You mean don't drop after raising? I was just going to keep it at the higher temp for a couple of weeks until cold crashing.

Offline dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4723
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2014, 05:52:13 am »
Just keep the temperature high, otherwise you risk a stall, and potential gushers.

And you don't need to dry hop any more than 4-5 days.  There is no benefit to going any longer than that.
Dave

The world will become a much more pleasant place to live when each and every one of us realizes that we are all idiots.

Offline flbrewer

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2161
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2014, 12:56:25 pm »
Just double checking the instructions with the yeast from the manufacturer...

In order to achieve high attenuation, we recommend fermenting at 66-68 ºF for 3-4 days, and then raising the temperature to 72 ºF until a stable gravity is reached.

This leads me to believe you raise the temps whether or not fermentation is done. True?

Offline dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4723
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2014, 01:00:55 pm »
Yep.
Dave

The world will become a much more pleasant place to live when each and every one of us realizes that we are all idiots.

Offline archstanton

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 81
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2014, 01:31:02 pm »
Just double checking the instructions with the yeast from the manufacturer...

In order to achieve high attenuation, we recommend fermenting at 66-68 ºF for 3-4 days, and then raising the temperature to 72 ºF until a stable gravity is reached.

This leads me to believe you raise the temps whether or not fermentation is done. True?

Well no not true, the point is to raise the temps BEFORE fermentation is done, and allow it to finish at 72. If you waited until it was done the benefit of the temp rise is no longer valid, too soon and you risk fusels and other off flavors. 

Offline flbrewer

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2161
Re: Raising Ferm. temps
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2014, 01:34:20 pm »
Got it. Thanks! Again, this yeast is a beast...Gravity moved from 1.062-1.020 in 72 hours. Still a little ways to go.