On Sunday I made, after some problems, 5 gallons of "Darling Suds of Faye", a Summer Lightning similie using Optic malt, Challenger and Cascade.
I pitched rehydrated S-04at 10pm, and sure enough, it's fermenting like a b******. I've skimmed the head a couple of times to remove trub due to a strainer failure.
My problem is this. On Wednesday I've got to go away for work, and I won't be back until the early hours of Friday. So what to do? Do I
1) Drop to an airlocked secondary tomorrow evening?
2) Just Leave it in the primary with a loose fitting lid over the top to prevent the creepy crawlies getting to it?
3) Drop it straight into a Cornie and that's that?
4) None of the above?
Not encountered this one before. Usually I leave it for three to four days then clap the cooler on it for a couple of days before kegging. Unfortunately it isn't in a coolable FV. I was going to fine this batch, but I'm not bothered, I just don't want it to spoil.
Cheers
Ian
What to do?
Snap the lid on apart from a smallish gap to vent the CO2, and throw a bin bag over the lot. It'll be fine. By Wednesday it will have slowed down a point where it's not going to try and escape the fermenter anyway and so it will just sit there and quietly get on with it. By the time you get back it may well be ready to rack to a secondary to clear it, or to keg it directly.
Either that, or drop it to an airlocked secondary but that won't help you with temperature control any more than leaving it in the primary.
Either that, or drop it to an airlocked secondary but that won't help you with temperature control any more than leaving it in the primary.
I think you'll be finished with the major fermentation by Wednesday. My S-04 brews are usually finished with 2-3 days max. So my vote is for #2. Leave it and forget about it, with the lid on of course.
As for the creepy crawlies.. let the neighbor kids have a go at it, they won't touch your beer again for a while
As for the creepy crawlies.. let the neighbor kids have a go at it, they won't touch your beer again for a while

Johnny Clueless was there
With his simulated wood grain
With his simulated wood grain
They have beer. You might even find British beer there. What else do you want?! Duty free stuff, as well.Ianb wrote:Thanks, Guys
It's staying in the primary until I get back.
Oh Joy! Two days of sunshine and San Miguel for a two hour meeting!!![]()
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Does anyone know if there is anything decent to drink in Gibraltar???
Ian
