Brewferm Diablo question

[FatCol]

Hi All,

I started a Brewferm Diablo at the weekend (doubled up) and have a question regarding the fermenting instructions, which are not too clear - or it could just be me being thick!

They seem to suggest racking the brew into a 2nd FV BEFORE fermentation is fully complete, and then standing it in a cooler place for 2 weeks before priming and bottling. Is this a kind of basic layering i.e. finishing the fermentation at cool temperature?

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated, as I want this to turn out right and be ready in time for Christmas.

The exact wording from the instructions is below:

"syphon the beer into another clean recipient without stirring up the sediment. Basically, you can start bottling the beer now, but we recommend storing the beer (before fermentation has completed, resulting in less activity in the airlock) during 1 or 2 weeks in a cooler place (max 20c, but less is better) in a clean recipient with airlock.This is the second fermentation or clarification."

 

[FatCol]

Sorry - spell checker decided to change lagering to layering...

 

[Rivvo]

I think it's just saying to do what a lot of people on here do, let the fermentation finish (2 consecutive identical hydrometer readings) then rack off into a second fv and put in a cool place, this allows the yeast to drop out further resulting in a clearer beer. Bring back into the warm for a day or so before bottling though otherwise it might not carb up properly.

 

[RaffCPH]

I bottled a batch of this back in september last year. I did not bother racking and bottled straight from the fv. The trub was very compact anyway so not a lot of sediment was stirred up. Cleared in the bottle after a couple of weeks.

6 and a bit months on it is a cracking sipping beer.

 

[Sandimas]

I think racking to a secondary FV helps speed up the conditioning process with these Brewferm kits. I did a Diabolo and Abbey without racking to a secondary, both took 3 months to become even drinkable and much longer to come good: did an Oud Vlaams Bruin 2 months ago, which I did rack to a secondary and left in the cool for a week to clear before bottling, and it's very drinkable now.

 

[serum]

Bring back into the warm for a day or so before bottling though otherwise it might not carb up properly.

Thanks for this tip. I've found a few of my Brewferm kits didn't carb well and this could have been why. They recommend quite a lot of priming sugar so I really couldn't get my head round it when you can get a decent head off a lower gravity beer using the same amount of sugar for a batch twice the size.

 

[FatCol]

Thank you for all the replies. I think the thing I was "confused" by is the racking into a second FV BEFORE fermentation has completed, and it still has a little activity. Thinking about it now though, I suppose it makes sense, as that way it will create a protective layer of CO2 in the 2nd FV as the very end of the fermentation takes place - otherwise, it would be stood unprotected for 2 weeks.

I was going to batch prime this before bottling, so presumably I should transfer to a 3rd FV, batch prime and bottle immediately to get the best results?

 

[jonnymorris]

1. Don't bother racking to secondary. All you'll do is mix up the yeast that was otherwise slowly making it's way down through the beer. I see little point with secondary unless you've had an explosive primary and need to get it into a clean FV.

2. Move it somewhere cool once it's finished fermenting. This will help it clear up a treat.

3. No need to warm it up before bottling. However, once it is bottled you will need to warm it up to carbonate.