Racking and Fermenting Your Wort

Equipment Checklist:

- Metal whisk
- Racking cane
- 1/4" tubing
- Fermentation bucket and lid
- Airlock
- Prepared yeast culture

After reducing the temperature of your wort, you will need to "rack" it from the boiling pot into the (sanitized) fermentation vessel. This process will pull off the clearest wort without the heavier proteins and hop particulates that have fallen to the bottom of the pot. You can use a racking cane and plastic tubing as shown in the photo above.

Be very cautious throughout all of these steps to avoid bacteria entering the wort or touching any of the equipment that contacts the wort. Consider burning a candle near the boiling pot to keep hot air rising near the atransfer area.

Once the wort is in the fermentation vessel, you will need to check the temperature before adding the yeast culture. It should be between 70-74 degrees. Next, vigorously aerate your wort with a metal whisk (or some other method). When you have worked up a nice foam, remove the airlock from your yeast "starter" and pour it into the wort. You are now ready to prepare the lid airlock and seal up the wort for the next 5-14 days (approximately).

Notice the trub left behind (center of copper coils) as you rack off the wort. This effect is increased by creating a whirlpool as the wort cools from boiling point.

For further clarity (and for an easy, thorough aeration) of the wort, I run it through a coffee filter and screen strainer.

Adding the magic ingredient! .

Is it beer yet? You will know your wort has finished fermenting when the airlock stops releasing gas. Wait at least 1-2 days (or longer, if desired) after you first notice that ALL airlock activity has ceased. Be patient and be sure to monitor the temperature of the room and the wort. It is helpful to purchase a thermometer that mounts on the outside of the fermentation bucket.

Remember - ale yeast will not function properly if the environment is too warm (75+) or too cool (> 62, depending on strain). A useful fermentation-assisting device, especially when brewing in the colder months, is a heat belt that keeps the wort at 70 degrees+ at all times when it is plugged in and wrapped around the fermentation bucket.

If you are sure you now have beer, let's rack, prime, and bottle it.

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