[curtdogg]

It's my first brew where I am actually controlling temperature during fermentation. I have a brown ale fermenting in my chest freezer being held at 68 degrees f. Its been fermenting for a week and I noticed today that the sanitizer in the air lock is being sucked into the fermenter. What can cause this? Will this affect my beer?

Thanks,
Curtis

[Bob357]

As active fermentation slows the temperature of the beer drops. This lowers the pressure inside the fermenter to below the ambient pressure. Using an "S" type air lock rather than a 3 piece air lock will prevent sucking in sanitizer.

[Joe Sr.]

No worries.  A small amount of sanitizer should not be a problem.  I use cheap vodka in my airlocks in the event something like this happens. 

If you're using star san, as it dilutes it becomes something like yeast nutrient so there is no harm there.

[curtdogg]

Thanks a lot guys.

I was thinking of transfering some of my Maple Brown Ale on to some ground Coffee this weekend. I figure I will give it 2 days and then taste to see where I am at as far as flavor. Does the coffee flavor fade with time? Would I be ok if it ages for a while in the bottle? Any other suggestions for this process?

Cheers
R,
Curtis

[Joe Sr.]

Yes.  Coffee flavor fades with time, but it does not go away.  I don't mind a coffee stout with some age on it.  I think the coffee becomes less prominent, but it's still there.  You'll lose some of the aromatics, mostly, in my experience.

How are you adding the coffee?  There are many ways to do so, none of them wrong.  I prefer to add cracked beans to the fermenter/keg.  My coffee guy tells me you'll get everything from the beans in 24 hours, but I usually leave them longer.

[curtdogg]

My plan was to use a course grind in a fine mesh bag and rack on top of it. Wait 2 days, taste go longer if necessary then bottle with corn sugar. I want a little in the back ground to go with the yeast and maple syrup. Basically an experiment if you will.

Thanks
R,
 Curtis

[Joe Sr.]

That's how I do it.  I think it will work well.  No real need to go past two days, but do whatcha want it won't hurt.

If I want more coffee than I get initially, I just crack more beans and do a second addition.