Unviolent fermentation...

Could be, but maybe not. I have cold pitched (~38F yeast into ~65F wort) before, with no ill effects that I could detect.

 

What temp did u pitch at and what temp are you fermenting at

 

I wouldn't worry. First, it sounds like a vigorous enough fermentation. Second, there are a lot of variables that affect how a fermentation looks that have nothing to do with its actual health. (To give an example not pertinent to you, for my goses and Berliners I sometimes pitch Lactobacillus a day ahead of pitching yeast. Because the Lacto breaks down proteins in the wort to the detriment of foam formation, the fermentation is often visually unimpressive, forming essentially no krausen. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it.)

 

Leave them be, and let them finish. The worst that'll happen is they will take longer to hit FG. I'd be far more worried about pitching a yeast like 1056 too warm, than I would over pitching them cold.

 

Cool. It's an IPA. I don't see the point, or value in racking to secondary with that style. But, if it makes you happy. Carry on.

 

I see value in it, depending on the setup. I closed-transfer from a conical (primary) to a purged, hop cage containing corny (secondary), to minimize O2 pickup. After a few days, I do another closed transfer to another corny for carbonation and serving.

 

I was about to post this exact thing. My berliners are always like this – airlock activity, yet nothing but tiny bubbles running along the side of the fermenter.

@hojo813 As long as you're getting airlock activity, then let it do it's thing at 67F. I think the yeast just got off to a slow start if you said it was in the high 40s/low 50s when you pitched.

 

This, as well as the colder start, could also be your reason for only 1/2 inch of krausen, rather than 'gangbusters'!

 

With this kind of transfer and into a fully purged bright, absolutely there's value in it.

 

If you use any Fermcap to prevent boil-overs, that can keep things pretty muted as well in terms of the krausen.

 

Pop the top and take a big sniff. If it burns your brain then there’s a healthy layer of CO2. Replace the lid quickly and walk away with your mind at ease.

RDWHAHB