Primary fermentation in beer（3）

When Is Primary Fermentation Complete?

The signs of fermentation reaching a stop are quite visual. But, it does not mean that it is an effective tell of complete Primary Fermentation. You have to undertake confirmatory steps to be absolutely sure. You would not want to have a half-fermented beer, now would you?

How Do I Know When Primary Fermentation Is Complete?

Here are some cues you can refer to when reaching Primary Fermentation’s completion:

• You Airlock Is Silent. When bubbles are few and far between, fermentation time is up.

• Kräusen Is Down. The foam in your vessel has subsided.

• Your Wort Is Calm. No more raging waters.

• Yeast Cake Down Under. Your yeast clumped up to form a cake and sank.

These are visual cues that signal you to take the next step of verification.

DEGONG beer fermentation tanks

What Is the Surest Way to Know Your Primary Fermentation Is Complete?

A surefire way to know Primary Fermentation Is Complete is via hydrometer readings. This tool measures the density of a liquid. In this case, you will be measuring the density of a wort turning into the density of alcohol.

To know if the process is complete, you take successive readings on different dates. If you observe no large change, that is a good sign. And then, you cross-reference the reading with the recipe’s target value.

If there are temperature swings in your area, you will need to make corrections to your readings. You should refer to your apparatus’ manual.

When to Stop Primary Fermentation for Beer?

The most prevalent wisdom on when to hit the brakes on Primary Fermentation is four weeks. Beyond that, you have to think seriously about racking or straight-up bottling. Although, always check your recipe. Who knows, you might be making a Lambic. That beer takes forever.

How Long Can You Leave Primary Fermentation?

Four to Six weeks is the sweet spot for safely overstaying Primary Fermentation. This is mostly for the most basic of beer classes. It just gives enough time to really do a full conversion of sugar to alcohol. It also helps the yeast clean up any undesirable by-products.

Can Primary Fermentation Be Too Long?

If you overshoot your recipe’s Primary Fermentation, that is a bad thing. Your hero yeast will start dying off. There is nothing left to eat so cannibalizing is the only option. When that happens, off-flavors begin spreading in the beer. Nothing good comes out of death in beer.

What Does Beer Look Like After Primary Fermentation?

The visuals you would get from a completely Primary Fermented beer are:

• A clear-looking beer because the floaters should have settled sufficiently.

• It is possible not to be as bright since there are lesser particles reflecting light.

• The beer reaches its relatively final hue.

What to Do After Primary Fermentation

After Primary Fermentation, you have several options like:

• Racking to the Secondary Fermenter. You are transferring clear beer while leaving behind most of the insoluble stuff.

• Directly Bottling Your Beer. If you have had enough of the brewing process and just want a drink with some buddies.

Can You Bottle After Primary Fermentation?

You definitely can bottle your beer after Primary Fermentation. You just need to ensure that fermentation is done because exploding bottles is a thing. If you rely too heavily on visual cues for completion, bad things can happen.

Some yeast can act finished, but then they get right back into the groove after a short break. Don’t be in a hurry to bottle your beer. You are going to have to trust in the fact that the flavor will get better later rather than sooner.

Can You Drink Beer After Primary Fermentation?

For sure you can drink beer after Primary Fermentation. It is something chefs and cooks do. You need to taste what you are making to know if you are going in the right direction. To be specific, you will be looking for:

• fermentation completeness,

• the flavor profile match,

• any lacking hoppy character,

• any off-flavors that you need to address.