Krausen hasn't dropped

[Edinbrew]

Hi, noob question here,

My brew has been fomenting for 10 days now, there's a layer of krausen sitting on top but there doesn't seem to be any activity or bubbling, my question is does the layer of krausen always drop to the bottom when femendations has finished, or can fermentation finish, but the krausen still sits on top?


Thanks

Edinbrew

 

[MrN]

What yeast strain did you use? Some proper top cropping strains can take a long time to drop. It's fine, you can just rack from underneath.

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[MiddleRoom]

Have you taken a gravity reading? Krausen can sit on top even after fermentation has finished, though generally the majority falls to the bottom.

 

[DoctorMick]

If you've checked fermentation is finished with gravity readings giving the bucket a tap around the outside can drop the krausen.

 

[Edinbrew]

Hi, thanks for the quick responses.

I'm not sure what the yeast is, it was a brewbarrel Alpine IPA kit, and it just said it was brewbarrel dry yeast.

The OG was 1052 and I've just taken another reading (and a cheeky we sample.. very nice!) the current gravity is 1010, so I think fermentation is about done, is it likely to go much lower? the kit says the ABV should be between 5.2 and 5.5.

I'll leave it another day as I've got another batch to bottle tonight

Thanks again

 

[Gerryjo]

+1 as DoctorMick says but make sure your gravity readings are about three days apart and stable.If so transfer to a secondary FV for another 2 weeks before bottling/kegging.

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[MiddleRoom]

If you've just taken a gravity reading, wait another day or two to see if it changes. If it's lowered, fermentation may still be taking place. If it remains the same, move onto your next process (whether that's secondary fermentation or bottling/kegging). Personally I see no benefit to secondary fermentation, but each to their own.

 

[terrym]

My advice is to leave it alone for another five days then take another reading, which might be slightly less than the current reading. By then it should be well and truly done, the yeast will have cleaned up, and it should be clearing or apparently clear, but still with enough yeast to carbonate. You could also move to a cool place for a couple of days after this since this will also help drop the yeast.

 

[Callumbo]

i had a brew where the krausen never fully dropped. Really weird i left it for about a month and it just wouldn't drop.

Then was given a suggestion of giving it a tap on the side and it all sank. Turned out the krausen just had a lot of air bubble locked in it.

That being said. You've only waited 10 days so its probably still doing stuff. My suggestion is to leave it another week then give it a little tap on the side.

 

[Edinbrew]

OK, thanks folks,

I'm probably just being a bit impatient, I'll leave it a few days longer and see what happens.

 

[mattellis70]

Quick answer is no not always but 99% of the time yes it does. You could just have a yeast that doesn't want to floc-out. Best thing to do is take a gravity. If it's where you want it then rack is out of there and continue as normal.


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[Godsdog]

1052 down to 1010 gives you and ABV of 5.51 but as others have said give it a little more time for the yeast to clear up after itself and don't fret