American Ale Yeast 1056 and warm temps

[linvillegorge]

I just transferred my IIPA loosely based on a Pliny the Elder clone recipe to the secondary after two weeks in the primary. It tasted really boozy. Alarmingly so even with a targeted ABV of around 9%. I fear fusels.

We don't have AC, but at 8000 feet in CO, that's usually not an issue. However, the past couple of weeks have been pretty roasting hot. If I'd realized how hot it was going to get, I would've held off on brewing. It got up to 80 in the house a couple of days, but that was several days after the brew and primary fermentation was tailing off. Most of the fermentation took place in the low 70s.

Hopefully it just needs some mellowing? My Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous with a similar target ABV seemed slightly boozy at this point too, but not to this level. This stuff was almost like it had vodka poured in it.

This was a pricy batch. Hopefully it's not junked. I wish I'd tasted it before I added the dry hop. That was almost $20 in hops right there. If I'd tasted it prior, I would've left it in the primary for another week or so to see if it mellowed out a little.

 

[emetcalf]

Give it time. Boozy flavors usually fade eventually. I remember the first time I tried Widmer's Russian Imperial Stout and the alcohol flavor ruined the beer for me. 3 months later, it was delicious.

 

[linvillegorge]

Give it time. Boozy flavors usually fade eventually.

That's been my experience as well. I'm just worried about this one because of how boozy it tasted an how hot that I know it got. I know there will be fusels present, just hopefully not enough to completely ruin the batch.

 

[duckmanco]

I just transferred my IIPA loosely based on a Pliny the Elder clone recipe to the secondary after two weeks in the primary. It tasted really boozy. Alarmingly so even with a targeted ABV of around 9%. I fear fusels.

We don't have AC, but at 8000 feet in CO, that's usually not an issue. However, the past couple of weeks have been pretty roasting hot. If I'd realized how hot it was going to get, I would've held off on brewing. It got up to 80 in the house a couple of days, but that was several days after the brew and primary fermentation was tailing off. Most of the fermentation took place in the low 70s.

Hopefully it just needs some mellowing? My Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous with a similar target ABV seemed slightly boozy at this point too, but not to this level. This stuff was almost like it had vodka poured in it.

This was a pricy batch. Hopefully it's not junked. I wish I'd tasted it before I added the dry hop. That was almost $20 in hops right there. If I'd tasted it prior, I would've left it in the primary for another week or so to see if it mellowed out a little.

You need a swamp cooler. Absolutely best 5 bucks I spent on this hobby. Let's you hold the temps you want, you only have to maintain it for the first three days, and the beers turn out so nicely with zero fusels if done right.

I only reco it because you stated it fermented at low 70's. Low 70's for Cal Ale is a touch high on it's own, but to make it worse, your fermenting wort could have been 5-10 degrees higher than ambient. Try the swamp cooler. You will not be sorry.