TC neglected

[DanielB]

I have made some straight TC, and it has fermented to dry. However I had to go away for a few days.
It is now 16 days since I started the brew.

I now need to decant into a bucket to bulk prime and bottle.

Do you think the yeast will still be active to prime? Or should I add a little yeast at bulk priming to help carbonate?

Thanks all!

 

[terrym]

At only 16 days on there is likely to be enough yeast in suspension to carb up, even though it may be substantially clear. It may take a little longer that's all. I would use one PET bottle to monitor how the carbing has progressed. If there is no sign of pressurisation after say 3 weeks in the warm you may have to think again.
The alternative is, of course, to add a little yeast at packaging, but personally I would not be doing that.

 

[DanielB]

Thank you terrym.

 

[Graz]

Usually leave mine at least 14 days anyway and never had any problems with carbonation. It'll be fine.

 

[DanielB]

Thank you! As an aside...at bottling, do you sterilise your caps!?

 

[Cwrw666]

Thank you! As an aside...at bottling, do you sterilise your caps!?

Not if they're new, but I'm a tight-wad so when I reuse caps I put them in a jug of boiling water to sterilise.

 

[DanielB]

Thanks. Yes, they're new... But I worry.

Although, now I know I can reuse them

 

[Cwrw666]

You have to have a bottle opener that doesn't bend or put dents in the rim of the cap. I usually only re-use them once but I've got a few Welsh flag bottle caps from Tomos Watkins beers that I've reused over and over again.