Another 'What to do?'

ColoradoXJ13 · 01-12-2007, 05:03 PM

So I brewed a christmas ale on 11/24. I know the recipe is weird, but I had the DME and WME for free because the HBS messed up measurements for my first beer and gave it to me for free, figured I might as well use it.

4.7lbs Dark Malt Extract
3.3 lbs Wheat Malt Extract
1lb Honey
1lb Pale Malt Extract

1lb Crystal 15L
1/2 lb Caramunich 60L

2tsp Cinnamon
1oz Fresh Ginger (grates

1 oz Amarillo 9.8%
1 oz Wilamette 4.9%

WLP 820 Oktoberfest/Marzen Lager Yeast

OG 1.069 @ 60*F

Steeped grains as water came up to temp, held at 160*F 30 mins, removed grain bad, brought to boil, added extracts/honey and Amarillo, boil 45 mins, add ginger, cinnamon and wilamette and 1/4tsp irish moss, boil 15 mins. Cooled, filtered and pitched yeast at ~70*F. Primary @65* ~1.5 weeks until fermentation slowed , has been in secondary @55*C with another oz of wilamette since then (~6 weeks).

SG is at 1.024 @ 6*F and had been steady there for a couple weeks. It tastes really good, the ginger and cinnamon were really strong in the wort, they have mellowed out a lot.

Can I bottle it? Seems the SG is still high, don't want to blow up bottles. I can also borrow a buddy's kegging setup he isn't using and just get it, force carbonate and not worry about blowing up bottles....I'd rather bottle it though so I can transport it.

Thanks in advance.

Should I

Fiery Sword · 01-12-2007, 05:18 PM

Sounds like it's ready for keg to me! You might have to age it out a bit if you are getting some off flavors, WLP820 likes 50-55 for primary and high 30's for clearing. In the end, it should be a very good beer!

ColoradoXJ13 · 01-12-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiery Sword

Sounds like it's ready for keg to me! You might have to age it out a bit if you are getting some off flavors, WLP820 likes 50-55 for primary and high 30's for clearing. In the end, it should be a very good beer!

There aren't any off flavors I can detect, it is a bit sweet, but it is mellowed a lot by the dry hopping, I can see it being really tasty cold and carbonated. I did ferment at slightly high temps, but hey, what can I do...

I'll keg it this weekend I guess.

Fiery Sword · 01-12-2007, 05:33 PM

The higher temps won't kill you....you've just got to be aware of those flavors. Over 6 weeks in clearing will definitely minimize that, though. I definitely think you are ready to keg/bottle so enjoy and bottoms up!!!

cweston · 01-12-2007, 05:41 PM

That's only about 65% attenuation. That seems awfully low for a wort with honey in it: honey should lead to a drier beer, since it is more highly fermentable than malt.

Do you know the attenuation range for your yeast strain?

Fiery Sword · 01-12-2007, 05:43 PM

I believe it's 65-72% for WLP820.....I have recently used it. So he's borderline.....but ok?

Evan! · 01-12-2007, 05:47 PM

65-73% is listed. So he's on the low range, which, yeah, seems low when there's honey involved, but not impossible.

Here's what I'd do: stir up the trub a little bit, and up the temps for a few days. See if there's any airlock activity and/or change in gravity. If there's not, I wouldn't worry about any bottle bombs.

Colorado: did you aerate your wort? I've seen low attenuation way too many times, but that was before I got my aeration kit.

Evan! · 01-12-2007, 05:47 PM

ninja-ass fiery sword.

Fiery Sword · 01-12-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan!

ninja-ass fiery sword.

Busy day at work.

colo - take da man's advice. best way to know!

ColoradoXJ13 · 01-12-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan!

65-73% is listed. So he's on the low range, which, yeah, seems low when there's honey involved, but not impossible.

Here's what I'd do: stir up the trub a little bit, and up the temps for a few days. See if there's any airlock activity and/or change in gravity. If there's not, I wouldn't worry about any bottle bombs.

Colorado: did you aerate your wort? I've seen low attenuation way too many times, but that was before I got my aeration kit.

I have done the stirring and higher temp thing already, I noticed airlock activity but I am pretty sure it was from the beer de-gassing CO2 because of the increase in temperature, didn;t see any drop on SG after a week of this.

I probably didn't aerate the wort enough, has been a problem on my first two beers, wasn't really sure what was needed, next batch, I am going to shake the crap out of the fermenter. Aeration kit will have to wait for the spring/summer, I am poor now