Banana esters with SafAle 04?

BrewSwag 728
Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
mjap52

mjap52

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
186
Reaction score
10
Location
Amherst
I just brewed BierMuncher's OktoberFAST using Safale 04 for my brew. I just kegged my first 5 gallons of it and when I took my FG sample I got a lot of banana ester aroma. It finished at about 1.011. I pitched and fermented around 63 - 65 and after initial fermentation was done bulk aged it at ambient (around 70) for about 2.5 weeks.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm kind of surprised by this, I wasn't really expecting it. Maybe it will fade once it's chilled & carbed, but I'm just curious for some input on people who've had similar outcomes.

My og was 1.056 and I had about 74% efficiency. Attenuation was about 78%.

Thanks all!
 
mjap52 said:
I just brewed BierMuncher's OktoberFAST using Safale 04 for my brew. I just kegged my first 5 gallons of it and when I took my FG sample I got a lot of banana ester aroma. It finished at about 1.011. I pitched and fermented around 63 - 65 and after initial fermentation was done bulk aged it at ambient (around 70) for about 2.5 weeks.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm kind of surprised by this, I wasn't really expecting it. Maybe it will fade once it's chilled & carbed, but I'm just curious for some input on people who've had similar outcomes.

My og was 1.056 and I had about 74% efficiency. Attenuation was about 78%.

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, over about 64 degrees, it gets estery! Your fermentation temperature must have crept over 65 degrees.
 
I actually have a beer fermenting with 04 as we speak. I was told to ferment at 68. To warm? I could get it down but I wasn't planning on it.
 
Yooper said:
Oh, yeah, over about 64 degrees, it gets estery! Your fermentation temperature must have crept over 65 degrees.
Click to expand...


Hmm, so is this considered an off flavor of the yeast? From what I understand, the suggested fermentation temps for this yeast is between 64-75.

Also, you respond to almost all of my questions I post here. Thank you! haha:mug:
 
mjap52 said:
Hmm, so is this considered an off flavor of the yeast? From what I understand, the suggested fermentation temps for this yeast is between 64-75.

Also, you respond to almost all of my questions I post here. Thank you! haha:mug:
Click to expand...

Wellllllllllllllllllllll, here's the thing. So4 is a British yeast. So, yes, if you ferment it higher it will get English-y. Now, for most British beers this is fine. But it means esters.

I don't use S04 in my British beers, because it's not a pleasant estery, the way something like London Ale yeast would be.

So, it's not an off-flavor, as it's expected in English yeast. But it's not a very nice character of this particular yeast.
 
mtyquinn said:
I actually have a beer fermenting with 04 as we speak. I was told to ferment at 68. To warm? I could get it down but I wasn't planning on it.
Click to expand...

If you like bananas, it's fine.

This yeast isn't a "fun" character English yeast in my humble opinion. For English yeast at 68 degrees, I'd pick WLP002, London ale yeast, ESB yeast, etc. NOT this one.
 
I brewed the same recipe with 04 a few weeks ago. Basement was warm (70 ish) so I did the t-shirt-over-the-bucket-in-a-tub-of-water-with-a-fan trick. I have no idea what temp it actually fermented at! I bottled last weekend and didnt notice much banana. Must be I got lucky!
 

Similar threads

Clint Yeastwood
Banana Smell at 63 with Abbaye?
Replies
1
Views
425
Alan Reginato
Alan Reginato
G
A little sweeter cider?
Replies
3
Views
904
Chalkyt
Chalkyt
F
NEW MEMBER FROM MAKASSAR, INDONESIA!
Replies
9
Views
401
Fiziiii
F
Bilbo24
Wort cooldown temps and time????
Replies
17
Views
2K
marc1
marc1
U
Having an unusually long primary activity. How normal is this?
Replies
8
Views
834
hotbeer
hotbeer
Williams Brewing 300

Latest posts

Back
Top