Two Stage Fermentation
This is a home beer brewing method used in North America to produce beers with a higher level of carbonation in the finished product and to also help the beer to clear more quickly.
Equipment
In addition to the equipment already listed as typical beer brewing equipment, you will need a glass carboy (min. capacity of 6 gallons) with stopper and fermentation lock to use as a secondary fermentor.
Procedure
1. Follow steps in the beer brewing process up to the stage where you fill your primary fermenter to 5 gallons.
2. Snap lid on the fermenter and attach fermentation lock which has been filled half way with water. Allow to ferment in a warm area at 65-75ºF.
3. After the first day regularly check the specific gravity of your beer by using a hydrometer. When the specific gravity reaches 1020, which will usually be a day or two after fermentation starts, syphon your beer into the secondary fermenter and attach the fermentation lock which has been half filled with water.
4. Fermentation will be complete when the specific gravity remains constant between 1000-1010 depending up the beer quality.
5. At this stage the beer can be left in the secondary fermenter to age or bottled/kegged immediately.
6. Follow my instructions for bottling beer and using a pressure barrel.
