stress

I did an NEIPA recently O.G. 1.060 and the homebrew store was out of the yeast I needed and it had to be brewed that day so I pitched RVA Hoptopper 2 1/2 months old with no starter :smh: (I knew better and said YOLO). Resulting beer is very fusel tasting which I can only think is due to...

I am looking for experienced brewers, who can tell how they intentionally stressed yeast when going for specific flavours (e.g. for Saisons, Farmhouse ales). I've read some people here using 20% less yeast and saying it is for stressing the yeast, but pure logic contradicts that 20% can mean...

So here is my "did I (verb) my beer" thread. Some friends and I were playing pretty continuous beer pong while I was in the process of brewing my first all-grain. :tank: To paraphrase certain government officials... "Mistakes were made." I forgot to stick the manifold into the mash/lauter...