Anyone use WL 820 ..if so what is your experience ?

[kchomebrew]

Have an Oktoberfest in the primary. On day 4 right now and it's working just fine. Have it at 53F-55F. Never used WL 820 before. Heard mixed reviews. Any recommendations ? Was planning 14 days in primary and then down to lagering temp. for approx. 6 weeks in the secondary. Any opinions, suggestions, comments are appreciated. Obviously, with the long term commitment, want to make sure this finishes out well. Thanks.

 

[Johnny9]

SSSSSLLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWWW

Even after using a starter. Pitched at 50F and held there for most of the fementation (I raised is slightly near the end for a D-Rest). It took a full 32 days to reach target FG. But it did make a great Octoberfest.

I have never had a lager yeast take so long.

 

[doctorRobert]

I did about 10 days at 50, then a week at 63 - and all signs of fermentation stopped, racked it to my secondary and going to lager it at my basement temp (50-55) until march or so

First lager so I hope it goes alright.

 

[Homercidal]

I pitched a starter 3 days ago and just saw signs of fermentation last night. Many reviews online indicate that it's a slow starter and takes a while.

But some also say they love the beer.

 

[Johnny9]

SSSSSLLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWWW

Even after using a starter. Pitched at 50F and held there for most of the fementation (I raised is slightly near the end for a D-Rest). It took a full 32 days to reach target FG. But it did make a great Octoberfest.

I have never had a lager yeast take so long.

As a comparison point, I just lagered my second ever Octoberfest. This time I used WLP-833 and pitched onto the yeast cake from a previous batch of Munich Helles. It reached teminal gravity in about 8 days. I lagered/kegged it on day 12 and the sample tasted really clean for such a young beer.

Probably not a completely fair comparison considering the WLP-833 was a yeast cake that was already rocking, but still.....

BTW: that 833 yeast cake is working over a batch of Maibock now. Had a very short lagtime before the airlock took off. Its on day 3, can't wait to see how quickly this bigger beer gets done....

 

[kchomebrew]

Had the Oktoberfest in the primary and took a reading today. Forgot to take the 0G. Took the reading today and it was 1.018. Had the primary at a consistent 55F for the full. So, I racked to the secondary. Going to keep the secondary at 45F for about 2 to 3 weeks and then move to 55F for another 3 weeks and will bottle. Anyone know what the typical OG for a brew like this should be ?

Overall, very pleased with the WL820 after reading a lot of poor comments regarding. It is slow , as everyone notes...but nothing surprising. If I can recommend anything, since I feel like it was successful...pitch at 65F and then primary immediately at 55F. I sampled some before racking to the secondary and I'm already pleased with it. I know it will be a good beer when it's ready in 2 more months !

 

[kchomebrew]

Thought I'd provide an update. Bottled this some time ago and just tried for the first time this weekend. What an outstanding beer. Perfect Oktoberfest style beer. Going back to WL820, I would certainly use it again to brew an oktoberfest.

 

[foyboy]

2L starter and I used it to brew a Celebrator doppelbock and it came out outstanding.I left it ferment in the primary for over a month before raising temps about 10f for a few days then cold crashed for 3 days and into a 5 gallon carboy, into keggerator to sit a month then racked to keg.Yeast is slow at 50f but thats what it is!

 

[BryceL]

Thought I'd provide an update. Bottled this some time ago and just tried for the first time this weekend. What an outstanding beer. Perfect Oktoberfest style beer. Going back to WL820, I would certainly use it again to brew an oktoberfest.

Good to hear! I'm doing my first lager right now...an Oktoberfest using WLP820. I'm on day 15 right now in primary. I've been fermenting at 50 and just bumped it up for the diacetyl rest. I plan to step it back down to lagering temps over the next two weeks, then transfer it into a keg for 4 months of lagering. Overall it's been a slow but steady fermentation which looks to be normal. Can't wait to tap into this one!

 

[BryceL]

Just an update with my Oktoberfest. I tasted it before the diacetyl rest and it was nearly undrinkable. Super buttery. I just sampled it today and it tastes quite good! I'm very happy with how it is coming along. Time to start dropping the temp down for lagering.