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What's a good beer to leave in fermenter for 6+ months?

Discussion in 'General Homebrew Discussion' started by corty, Mar 13, 2013.

 

  1. #1
    corty

    New Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    Little back story is I just got a kegging setup, unfortunately I will not get to use it for another 6 months because I'm going to OSUT for the National Guard. Any ways I'm looking to do a beer and just leave it in fermenter or if I have time rack to secondary and leave it till I get back. Open to any style and thank you in advance for any information.
     
  2. #2
    olz431

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    Might as well do a big Belgian, or a barleywine!
     
  3. #3
    Echoloc8

    Acolyte of Fermentalism

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    You could always secondary in the well-sanitized keg. Anything relatively-high-grav would likely do: Russian Imp Stout, Barleywine, Belgian Tripel. I would stay away from anything where hop character is super-important, though: an imperial/double IPA would likely still be OK, but intense hop flavor and aroma are notorious for not lasting well.

    [Edit: meant to add] That way you can get home and just chill, hook the keg up to CO2 and go!

    -Rich
     
  4. #4
    Fastmetal

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    Or if you do a IIPA you could dry hop the crud out of it when you got back. But I would do a Barley Wine or Russian Imperial Stout if it were me.

    Thanks for your service by the way.
     
  5. #5
    homebrewdad

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    Something higher on the ABV scale, for sure. A big Belgian would be a great choice, as would a RIS, a barleywine, etc.

    I did an imperial nut brown ale that spent five months between primary and secondary, and it was great.
     
  6. #6
    corty

    New Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    Thanks for the replies, I've been wanting to do a barleywine so I guess I will give that a whirl. When I leave it in secondary do I just fill all head space to prevent oxidization, or put in keg and bleed the oxygen out?
     
  7. #7
    prandlesc

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    Try a Russian Imperial Stout. It really needs to sit.
     
  8. #8
    techbrewie

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    almost any high gravity brew. Russian imperial stout, Some porters.
     
  9. #9
    worksnorth

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 13, 2013
    When you transfer the Barley wine into your keg for storage just purge the empty head space well with CO2. It'll keep for a loooong time that way.
    Cheers
     
  10. #10
    kevthrasher

    New Member

    Posted Mar 14, 2013
    Imperial stout you can leave for a year.
     
  11. #11
    Echoloc8

    Acolyte of Fermentalism

    Posted Mar 14, 2013
    The latter. A keg needs a certain amount of head space to work well. Displace the oxygen with CO2 (search around here for "purging a keg") and you should be golden.

    -Rich
     
  12. #12
    Spartan1979

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 14, 2013
    I brewed my Christmas ale a few weeks ago. A 1.083 Old Ale with spices and dried fruits. I plan on letting it sit for at least 6 months although I may transfer it to a keg if I need the carboy.
     
  13. #13
    daksin

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Mar 14, 2013
    Did you pick one yet?
     
  14. #14
    corty

    New Member

    Posted Mar 14, 2013
    Yeah, I believe I'm going to do a barleywine looking as we speak for a recipe. Any good one's you guys have tried all grain preferred.
     
  15. #15
    Echoloc8

    Acolyte of Fermentalism

    Posted Mar 14, 2013
  16. #16
    njporter

    Banned

    Posted Mar 15, 2013
    sour
     
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