Homebrew : what precautions for racking ?

eLpOULpO

Hi,

I just saw there are a few experts in homebrewing around, so I thought I would throw this question.
I've been brewing beer for over one year, now, but never tried to rack it after the fermentation, because I'll use a glass and don't care about a bit of a cloud in it. My concern is the following: if I understood the process correctly, the yeast is digesting the priming sugar into carbon dioxyde which, once dissolved in the bottle/keg, will give its bubbles and head to the beer.

But then, how do you make sure you still have enough yeast after racking ?

Do you need to stir it and let it settle again, or do you consider there's enough yeast in suspension at any time ?

John_C

There'll be enough yeast no matter what you do.

guildofevil

Yep. The only way to get all of the yeast out of suspension is to filter the beer, so don't worry about leaving the yeast cake behind in the primary fermentor.

When I am making a fruit beer, I place the fruit in the secondary and syphon the beer on top. You would have no doubt at all about the amount of yeast left in the beer if you saw it take off again, as it gets to grip with the fruit sugars.

eLpOULpO

Thanks a million for your replies, my friends will have the right to enjoy clear beer, thanks to you guys.

So the yeasts seem to be very kind of tough, can I let them in the secondary for a long time (~10 days) or will they finally die?

I think I take them for more fragile than they really are, but I'd rather be too cautious than spoil a batch of beer.

noby

10 days is no problem. Some people have sewcondary periods that last weeks. You don't need to, though.

The yeast won't die. After they eat all the sugars, they will eventually fall to the bottom, and lie dormant. When you bottle, this means they will fall to the bottom of the bottle. With upright storage, and careful pouring, you can have a perfactly clear pint, without the need for finings etc. Or you could drink yeast and all.

eLpOULpO

Thanks for all your answers, I'll now have clear pints without the sadness of wasting the last few mL of the bottle.

I'll sure be back with more questions (this fruit beer thing sounds really good), but I will first try to read all your posts, not to repeat issues already adressed.

Thanks again