cold crashing visible layers

[RubberToe]

Hi everyone, I posted this on HBT (lots of eyes), thought I'd x-post it here since I value your opinion.

I just kegged a low ABV (3.5%) version of Schlenkerla's Quaffable Irish Red (All Grain). This was a bit of an experiment in that I wanted to go from grain to glass pretty quickly due to a bit of a homebrew shortage. I brewed it last Sunday Jan 22, it only took a few days to ferment out. On Saturday Jan 28 I took a hydrometer reading and it was at 1.010. The sample was still a bit cloudy of course so I decided to start cold crashing hard. I set my ferm chamber to 1.5 degrees C (34.7 F) and after checking the clarity of a sample this evening (nice and clear) I decided to keg it.

While racking I could see a visible clear layer on top and got wondering... first of all I damn well hope that's not alcohol on top! Maybe it's just color compounds settling out.

I was going to put the pics inline but they're a little on the big side. Links:
http://i.imgur.com/kkwzv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qMREy.jpg

Is this normal? I'm guessing it is, and not too worried. I did crash it pretty cold.

Thanks,
-Rob

[mr x]

Many layers are normal for me, depending on the yeast.

[Bryan]

I noticed this on my latest IPA... I wondered if it was hop oils, but I'm not sure. I generally do the same fermentation procedure as you. One thing I would recommend is raising the temperature a few degrees toward the end of fermentation, to give it a diacetyl rest. I haven't filtered my beer (yet), but I have heard that this would help speed up the brew day to glass process.

[Tony L]

Just yeast and protein settling out due to you cold crashing. I see this all the time in varying degrees.

[GAM]

I sometimes get fine hop particles, from pellets floting on co2 in the top 1-2" of beer (thats 25.4000-50.8000mm).

Sandy

[RubberToe]

Thanks all, great feedback.