goin for it - RIS

**android** · 11-24-2009, 02:32 PM

so i'm brewing up an APA today with 1056 and i'd like to reuse the cake for a russian imperial stout here in a few weeks.

i doubt any hop residue will affect the RIS as i don't normally strain out the wort... however, i do plan to dry hop and normally i just toss them in, should i consider putting them in a bag this time?

i usually follow pitching rates, but this RIS will be around 1.090, so does anyone think that pitching on the whole cake will have any ill effect?

**petep1980** · 11-24-2009, 03:14 PM

You could use a secondary fermenter to dry hop, then proceed as usual. Pitching right on the cake would likely work quite well since it'll just be like you used a big starter.

**android** · 11-24-2009, 04:54 PM

good point about the secondary, hadn't thought of doing that...

**android** · 11-25-2009, 03:11 PM

will i be able to sparge a RIS like usual or will i need a bunch of extra runnings to extract enough fermentables?

Oldsock · 11-25-2009, 03:24 PM

Most people assume lower efficiency on their big beers to account for the lower ratio of sparge water to malt. Another option would be to extend your boil, but you will probably spend more on the fuel than you would have on a pound or two of extra malt. You may want to have some extract on hand to give it a boost.

**android** · 11-25-2009, 07:09 PM

thanks for the tips... i normally get around 75%, what kind of loss should i expect? 5-10%?

**HopheadNJ** · 11-25-2009, 11:49 PM

So, if i brew an oatmeal stout (5gal) I can just put it on the Nottingham yeast cake from a porter with no ill effects?

**android** · 11-27-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopheadNJ

So, if i brew an oatmeal stout (5gal) I can just put it on the Nottingham yeast cake from a porter with no ill effects?

it kinda depends on the OG of your oatmeal stout... theoretically, you can overpitch with that big yeast cake and cause some off flavors, but i think there are plenty of people that have done what you've proposed with good results.

**android** · 12-05-2009, 09:52 PM

brewed this monkey up today... accidentally calculated it for a 5 gallon batch, not 6 like normal, so my OG ended up at 1.083. If I can get it down to about 1.019, it should be about 8.4% ABV, which'll be fine. my manifold came off the bulkhead at some point before sparging, so SWMBO helped me dump all the contents out, rehook the manifold and all was good after that... racked my APA off the 1056 cake, swirled it up with the 1/2 gal or so of beer left and pitched all that right into the RIS... i've prepared for an explosion and rigged up a blowoff... looking forward to this in about 6 mos!

**Reverend JC** · 12-05-2009, 10:14 PM

The one and only tip i have for a RIS is to boil for at least 2 hours. Get that bastard good and thick. Creat those melonoidans, get that OG up there.

UMMMMM, did i mention i just came from a verticle tasting of bourbon county stout?