I brewed a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale clone 6 days ago. The Krausen is still high and mighty. The airlock has definately slowed down, but I’m wondering when that Krausen will fall. I wanted to transfer to the secondary and dry hop on day 7, but I’m wondering if I should wait for the krausen to fall?
The beer makes the schedule, not the calendar. Wait for it to finish before dry opping.
Any reason why you’re racking to secondary? I’d just dry hop in the primary unless you’re planning on reusing the yeast. If you’re absolutely set on a timetable, you can add the dry hops in the primary before the krausen falls. I’ve done this and the beer has been fine. I wouldn’t rack to secondary if the primary fermentation is still chugging along, though.
If you’re not on a strict timetable, I’d just be patient and let the yeast tell you when they’re done.
Yeah, I’d just dry hop in primary. No need to secondary that beer.
Also, some of these lower floccing strains will leave krausen on top of the beer for several days after fermentation is actually finished. You can swirl the fermenter to knock down some of the yeast and make sure you take a hydrometer reading to be sure.
Another vote for dry hop in primary. Just open her up and drop the pellets right in. I usually wait about two weeks, then dry hop for 7-10 days and rack to keg.
I was gonna rack to the secondary because I read in the latest zymurgy that the yeast and trub extract a fair bit of the hop oils. Any comment?
My understanding of that article is that when the yeast and trub drop out of suspension, the drag hop oils out with them, which is why it is recommended to wait until fermentation is finished, and the yeast have dropped out before dry hopping. I dry hop in primary all the time, and I have seen no issues.
+1 I’ve always dry hopped in “primary” and have yet racked to a secondary to dry hop, so I couldn’t honestly say whether racking to a secondary to dry hop is better. I will say that my dry hopped beers have turned out great w/ great hop aroma. Maybe someone else has dry hopped both in primary and secondary and can let us know of any difference.
I recently switched from dry hopping in a secondary to a primary and a little difference. In fact I think primary is a bit better. It doesn’t allow as much oxygen into the beer which can "stale’ the hop aroma a bit. Ive noticed a bit fresher less “vegetal” hop aroma.
Also to the OP, some yeast strains take forever to drop krausen, I had a batch made with 1469 hold kruasen for nearly a month! Take a gravity reading, swirl the krausen down a bit. If the gravity is close to where it needs to be you should be ok to dry hop.
yeah, that Krausen is not going anywhere. I’m guessing that the fermentation is done. I was wondering if dry hopping on all that krausen would effect the ability of the hop oils to dissolve/do their thing.
You using cones or pellets? Pellets should drop right in. Cones may sit on top for a bit, but eventually they’ll sink through/absorb the krausen.
Pellets. I’ll just go ahead and take everyones’ advice that it’s ok to just add the dry hops to the primary. My gravity was perfect. I am a little disappointed that I didn’t taste more hop bitterness.