Secondary fermentation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Main articles: Cask ale; Bottle conditioning; Brewing; Méthode champenoise; Fermentation (food).

Secondary fermentation is an additional fermentation after the first or primary fermentation of beer, wine or other fermented beverage. Some fermented products may have three or more fermentations.

[edit] Bottle fermentation

See Bottle conditioning.

Some beers and sparkling wines undergo a fermentation in the bottle, giving natural carbonation. This may be a second or third fermentation. They are bottled with a viable yeast population in suspension. If there is no residual fermentable sugar left, sugar may be added. The resulting fermentation generates CO2 which is trapped in the container, remaining in solution and providing natural carbonation. Méthode champenoise wines have the deposit of yeast carefully removed.

[edit] Cask conditioning

See Cask ale.

Beer in casks are managed carefully to allow some of the carbonation to escape.