Cold crashing and oxidation

Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:30 pm

After listening to the most recent brewcaster challenge I am wondering if my beers are being exposed to oxygen. I have always crashed my beer in glass carboys with s shape air locks at 34 degrees for a few days prior to kegging/bottling. Is this method ok or should I skip this and just crash in the keg? I was concerned about clogging the dip tube on my kegs if I didn't crash before kegging especially with an ipa or dipa.
rossiski
 
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:57 am

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:15 pm

rossiski wrote:After listening to the most recent brewcaster challenge I am wondering if my beers are being exposed to oxygen. I have always crashed my beer in glass carboys with s shape air locks at 34 degrees for a few days prior to kegging/bottling. Is this method ok or should I skip this and just crash in the keg? I was concerned about clogging the dip tube on my kegs if I didn't crash before kegging especially with an ipa or dipa.


disclaimer....I have not listened to the most recent episode. I currently cold crash in kegs. But i used to only cold crash in carboys. I cold crashed about 20'ish batches in carboys and lost one to oxidation, and that was a double IPA.

My opinion is:
1) cold crashing in the keg is better, but your probably fine doing it in a carboy.
2) Hoppy beers are more prone to oxidation
3) If i dry hop in the carboy i use pellets, and leave enough beer on the bottom to insure i don't suck up any hop matter.

2nd disclaimer.....I'm drunk and this may not make since....
User avatar
Bad Goat Brewing
 
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:46 pm
Location: Oregon

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:57 pm

The oxidation comes frm the airlock being emptied right? So what about haveing a blow off tube rigged to the carbouy when you crash chill?
User avatar
j1m1
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:17 pm
Location: Dunedin New Zealand

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:18 pm

The oxidation comes frm the airlock being emptied right? So what about haveing a blow off tube rigged to the carbouy when you crash chill?


The blow off hose will suck up the sanitizer, or whatever the other end is submerged in, unless it long enough to hold the volume that the beer contracts. I think I heard 4% thrown out on the show. (Of course, that would vary with how cold you drop it.) 4% of 5.5 gallons is almost a quart. If the blow off hose couldn't hold a quart, the balance would end up in the beer.
dogismycopilot
 
Posts: 145
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 5:38 pm

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Sun Apr 13, 2014 12:05 am

I too was of the opinion that my cold crash method was ok until I heard JZ say "oh, no, no, no" (gasses mix). I usually crack the seal of my lid before CC thinking that the fermentor's CO2 blanket on the beer will protect my brew from O2. Seems like I may be wrong.

love

g
"in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king"....a person not quite as plastered as the rest (not a quote by RSM grod of the BN Army)
User avatar
grod
 
Posts: 1176
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:28 pm
Location: Hunter Valley Australia

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Sun Apr 13, 2014 12:37 am

Personally I only crash under pressure.
Lee

"Show me on this doll where the internet hurt you."

"Every zoo is a petting zoo if you man the fuck up."

:bnarmy: BN Army // 13th Mountain Division :bnarmy:
User avatar
Ozwald
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 3628
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:14 pm
Location: Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:01 am

Im trying to figure out why cold crashing would cause a large amount of air to be sucked into the carboy?? Are we saying Boyle's Law causes this? I think it is a very small amount of air movement and oxygen contact, especially compared to the transfer of the fermented beer to bottles or a keg. Hoppy beers are more likely to be oxidized because of the oxygen introduced during late hop additions right... I seem to remember Palmer and JZ downplaying this effect when talking about transferring to a bottling bucket if done with minimal splashing. I guess need to listen to this podcast now... :shock:
Jason.

tap:Alesmith IPA
carboy:Sour Blonde, Rye Saison w/Brett
bottld: Tripel A,Tripel B,Sour Blonde,Hef, Saison w/Brett
OnDeck:Brown Ale
Longtermferm:

"They think I do not know a buttload of crap about the Gospel, but I do!,"Nacho
User avatar
crashlann
 
Posts: 225
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:32 am
Location: Temecula, SoCal

Re: Cold crashing and oxidation

Tue Apr 15, 2014 2:16 pm

crashlann wrote:Im trying to figure out why cold crashing would cause a large amount of air to be sucked into the carboy?? Are we saying Boyle's Law causes this? I think it is a very small amount of air movement and oxygen contact, especially compared to the transfer of the fermented beer to bottles or a keg.:


Just had this happen. 2 quarts of sanitizer into the conical. 1/2" line that is 30" long (5.9 cuin). Drained the bucket of those 2 quarts. Damn it!!!!

Will still keg and try it though :)
Conical Fermenter - Amber Lager
Keg#1 Dunkel
Keg#2 Helles
Keg#3 Flanders Red
Keg#4 Star San
Keg#5 Star San
Keg#6 Star San
User avatar
Kbar
 
Posts: 984
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:43 pm
Location: Portland, Oregon

Next

Return to All Grain Brewing

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

A BIT ABOUT US

The Brewing Network is a multimedia resource for brewers and beer lovers. Since 2005, we have been the leader in craft beer entertainment and information with live beer radio, podcasts, video, events and more.