2ND batch on

[redarmy990]

hello all.
Just finished my 2nd extract kit, now waiting for the yeast to do its magic

Its a peanut butter stout using whitelabs004 irish yeast
When the yeast got delivered it was around 80 degrees and although it was ice packed im hoping it will be fine, i have had it in the fridge for 3 weeks due to a visit from my parents who use my spare bathroom when there here which is my fermentation room.
I decided to use it as being new to homebrew it will be part of my learning curve.
Wish me luck.

 

[ncbrewer]

Welcome, and good luck with your brew.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

Yeast are pretty resilient. You should be fine. One thing to do before your next brew is to research making a yeast starter. Most liquid yeast packs do not have enough yeast to easily ferment most brews. A starter increases the yeast count to help your beer ferment better. If the White Labs yeast was one of their new Pure Pitch packs, that's good. As long as your stout wasn't too high for gravity, the yeast you pitched will probably get the job done but a starter is a good idea for the future.

 

[redarmy990]

Thanks bluehousebrewhaus. It was one of there new packs and it said pitch direct onto cooled wort.
Yeast starters are something i do need to research and learn how to do.

 

[GPP33]

They are the easiest thing you will do that has to do with brewing.

 

[treacheroustexan]

Thanks bluehousebrewhaus. It was one of there new packs and it said pitch direct onto cooled wort.
Yeast starters are something i do need to research and learn how to do.

They say to and you can pitch directly, but it's always better to make a starter! Congrats on your 2nd beer. How did your first turn out?

 

[GoldenValleyBrewer]

They are the easiest thing you will do that has to do with brewing.

"Easiest?" I guess it's always sounded like it should be complicated so I just filed it under, "will learn more about down the road." I'm assuming it improves fermentation somehow?

 

[GPP33]

"Easiest?" I guess it's always sounded like it should be complicated so I just filed it under, "will learn more about down the road." I'm assuming it improves fermentation somehow?

I was in the same boat for quite a while. Not really sure why I thought it'd be more difficult then it was but I was making enjoyable beers without it so thought why complicate things? When I finally got around to doing it I felt like an idiot for not doing it earlier. It's all about getting the yeast cell count up and giving them the best chance possible to do their thing with as little stress as possible (stressed yeast aren't as nice to your beer).

 

[redarmy990]

UPDATE *****************
So i hit final gravity spot on, had a taste and its a damn good stout, just added the peanut butter flavouring, then ready to bottle in 1 weeks time.
Cant wait to try it with some carbonation, you know its good when your wife says WOW.
I want to save this for over christmas time, will a stout get better or worse with age.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

A stout will mellow and meld with time. However, added flavors (chocolate, vanilla, etc) tend to fade after a few months. I've never used peanut butter flavoring but I suspect it will fade, too. The good news is that if the flavor is too strong, give it some time and it will mellow. If the flavor is just right you probably have 2 - 4 months before it fades out.

 

[redarmy990]

im sure i can do 5 gallon in 2 weeks never mind 2 months.