fermenting a wheat

go_inbroke · 01-04-2012, 04:35 PM

I'm going to start a NB Bavarian Hefe in the morning. The instructions call for only a primary fermentation of two weeks. How long can I let this sit on the trub in primary? I would like to go three maybe four weeks. Has anyone let it sit this long in primary? I don't plan to use a secondary.

**JonK331** · 01-04-2012, 04:41 PM

Do it. No problem whatsoever, no need for secondary. I let all my beers sit on the trub that long, including hefes. Just keep in mind that hefe is meant to be consumed fairly fresh.

go_inbroke · 01-04-2012, 05:04 PM

Consumption is not a problem...Most batches gone within six weeks. I am chasing my thermometer around my 130 year old basement to find a spot about 63 degrees. I hope this is cool enough to produce the fruitiness.

Jamminjoenapo · 01-04-2012, 05:28 PM

I got a blonde that I started the first weekend in December and left it in my fermenting chamber at 63 for 10 days then took it out for 2 weeks while I was on vacation. Came home after Christmas and sanitized bottles expecting to bottle only to open a bucket with krausen on top. Needless to say it sat another week and now its sitting on 3 lbs of raspberries.

**JonK331** · 01-04-2012, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_inbroke

Consumption is not a problem...Most batches gone within six weeks. I am chasing my thermometer around my 130 year old basement to find a spot about 63 degrees. I hope this is cool enough to produce the fruitiness.

According to Brewing Classic Styles, 62F is optimal. I have found this to be true as well. At 63 ambient, your fermentation could get up to 68 which will still make a nice beer but is a touch high.

go_inbroke · 01-04-2012, 07:41 PM

I've found a spot about 59-60. Range of yeast (Danstar Munich Wheat Beer)
is listed at 55-66. Well away from furnace and should be real consistent.

Rev2010 · 01-04-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonK331

At 63 ambient, your fermentation could get up to 68 which will still make a nice beer but is a touch high.

Not for a hefe. I ferment mine at 68 and they come out great. I've been thinking of going a little warmer, like 70, to bring out more banana esters. I know a lot of German breweries use 63-65 but I find the banana esters too reduced at those temps with all the german hefe yeast strains I've used.

Rev.

Taypo · 01-04-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev2010

Not for a hefe. I ferment mine at 68 and they come out great. I've been thinking of going a little warmer, like 70, to bring out more banana esters. I know a lot of German breweries use 63-65 but I find the banana esters too reduced at those temps with all the german hefe yeast strains I've used. Rev.

What strain are you using? Wife doesnt care much for the bubble-gum esters that show up with warm ferments, trying to find a nice middle ground.

Rev2010 · 01-04-2012, 09:17 PM

Wyeast 3068 and 3638 - I like both but I prefer the 3638. I primarily ferment at 68 for a good balance. I've had one using 3068 recently ferment between 64-66 and it came out ok but somewhat lacked the ester profile I like and more accentuated the wheat. Again, that's perfectly fine, I just like a bit more ester production. I also always pitch the one pack of Wyeast Activator with no starter for my wheats.

Oh, and at 68 I don't have any bubblegum esters with those strains personally.

Rev.

go_inbroke · 01-06-2012, 08:26 PM

Holy Crap Batman....After 28 hrs in the bucket the fermentation became noticeable. By noticeable I mean I experienced my first blow off. I had to engineer a quick stopper and tube. I had no idea that would happen so quickly after fermentation starts. How long do I need to keep this rig together before putting the plastic water valve back in?