When to rack?

[schwiz]

Okay, first batch here so I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for. Here are some details.

Used Wyeast 4766 in 5 gallons of fresh cider.
It has sat for 6.5 days between 71-74*.
Bubbling has slowed down at once per every 5 seconds from every 3 seconds.

OG was 1.058, yesterday it was sitting at 1.021

So, my original plan was to rack tonight which would be 7 days in the primary. OR should I wait till the gravity is closer to 1.000?

It currently tastes really good I think but does have a very distinct 'yeasty' aroma. Hoping that the yeasty aroma will tone down once I transfer to secondary...

 

[Pickled_Pepper]

I like to rack around day 7-10, but I look for a specific depth of lees on the bottom and I generally like to rack around 1.015 or so. When to rack is a personal preference and experience with your recipe and conditions. I prefer to do it when there's still some fermentation left to create a blanket of CO2. If you do it too soon though then you will have to rack again when the lees build up again.

 

[schwiz]

I like to rack around day 7-10, but I look for a specific depth of lees on the bottom and I generally like to rack around 1.015 or so. When to rack is a personal preference and experience with your recipe and conditions. I prefer to do it when there's still some fermentation left to create a blanket of CO2. If you do it too soon though then you will have to rack again when the lees build up again.

Okay thanks, unfortunately its in a bucket so I can't see whats going on down there.

 

[Upthewazzu]

I just racked my first batch of cider the other day after 2.5 weeks in primary, used the same yeast as you. It settled at 1.001, but I plan on back sweetening when I bottle. Not sure if that helps, but it is confirmation that your gravity will continue to drop over the next week or so.

 

[Pickled_Pepper]

It's easy enough to pop the top to take a gravity reading. But if you don't have a secondary vessel, then just let it ride until you think it's finished. 3-4 weeks? You'll have to crack it open at some point

 

[siebercider]

No matter what, I always let my cider sit in primary fermentation for two weeks. I actually don't even take gravity readings until day 14. I bottle, so it may be different if you plan to cold crash, keg, and force carb.

 

[schwiz]

No matter what, I always let my cider sit in primary fermentation for two weeks. I actually don't even take gravity readings until day 14. I bottle, so it may be different if you plan to cold crash, keg, and force carb.

My plan is to move to secondary for a few weeks then add more sugar and put in champagne bottles. Might do some mini kegs instead, need to look into it.

 

[siebercider]

Good luck, schwiz.

I move my cider to secondary for three weeks, though I've also done two weeks. That way, I know that fermentation is finished and I won't have any bottle bombs when I add sugar to bottle prime. The downside is that I always end up with cider at 1.000, so very dry.

If I had the equipment, I'd probably cold crash it above 1.010 so that it's still sweet and then keg it and force carb it.

 

[schwiz]

I went ahead and racked to secondary today. There wasn't much trub in the bottom of the bucket. But those little buggers were busy, took the gravity reading from 21 to 6 in just two days, glad I went ahead and racked. Its tasting really good too, nice and balanced, can't wait to taste it once its mellowed out!

 

[TheHermit]

In the beginning I was always in a hurry, If the bubbling slowed down to nothing I racked to a secondary carboy. Well after about 10 batches I started to get lazy not on sanitization or anything like that I just couldn't find the time to rack.

The batch I am on now was in the primary 17 days before I racked there was nothing left for the yeast to eat. OG was at 1.080 FG was at 0.996 maybe a little lower coming in at 11.45 ALCH%.

What I noticed because I got lazy and didn't rack earlier was a very smooth taste. I will usually test at least 1 cup and drink it afterwards and have to say what a warm fuzzy feeling and a nice high.

But to each his own, as I have gained more experience I also seem to have a little more patience. We all seem to get in a hurry especially the first few batches. But as many people have said the longer the better. Glad I got lazy I still have a few gallons in storage, but as they say patience is a virtue.

Have fun, what started for me was to cut costs from buying at the store has become a nice little hobby for me. I restock, I make, and I enjoy my brew and my new hobby.

 

[aellis]

Does it make any difference whether a cider is aged in primary, secondary, or bottles? Can you bottle after 3-4 weeks in primary, and then age for 6 months, and have the same effect as racking to secondary after a month and aging in secondary for 5 months?

 

[Upthewazzu]

I don't care what anyone says, but the yeast definitely imparts flavor. I can't see the yeast doing any favors, flavor wise, for a cider. Best to put in a secondary if you plan on aging for 6 months. Or bottles, but secondary is probably the best bet, unless you want to drink one every now and again to taste test.