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Author Topic: newbie question - does yeast floating on top ever settle out?  (Read 7406 times)

Offline bissdp

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I have an american ale that is on it's 3rd week in the primary and there seems to be tiny islands of yeast floating on the top. The airlock activity stopped a while ago (read week or two) and I've checked the SG and it has been constant for a couple of days.  I am gonna bottle it this weekend, but I am curious if these floating islands are normal.

Offline denny

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Re: newbie question - does yeast floating on top ever settle out?
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2010, 10:36:25 am »
Doesn't sound abnormal.  Try to gently swirl your fermenter and see if they drop.
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Offline bissdp

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Re: newbie question - does yeast floating on top ever settle out?
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2010, 11:30:14 am »
I stirred a little and some settled out, but I decided to go ahead and bottle it.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Offline euge

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Re: newbie question - does yeast floating on top ever settle out?
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2010, 04:21:47 pm »
Sounds about right. The "stuff" floating on top dropping is just one of the visual clues the yeast is done. However, sometimes with   certain yeast the junk floating on top never drops out. Had that experience with Belgian yeast before.

The best indicator is a gravity check.
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Offline mikebiewer

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Re: newbie question - does yeast floating on top ever settle out?
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2010, 02:27:36 pm »
Good suggestions by everyone.

I also wouldn't worry about it much. Once you rack most of that get's left behind as well. It will fall and stick to the other yeast when you rack your beer over to bottle or to a secondary.

Good luck!