Autolysis

[anotherbeerplease]

Just brewed a 18-20% abv beer. WLP 099.

Anyone have experience with autolysis? Normally I let my beers sit on the yeast for a while, do I need to move this asap? Or can I let it sit for at least a few days...

 

[radwizard]

How long has it been on the yeast?

 

[anotherbeerplease]

Just finished fermenting. Sugar was added every day until yesterday. I think I brewed it May 28...

 

[IslandLizard]

I'd say you've got at least a month from when it finishes out.
Maybe contact White Labs?

But, uh, it's finished already in 10 days?

 

[Rob2010SS]

Just finished fermenting. Sugar was added every day until yesterday. I think I brewed it May 28...

I'm confused by this... I'm not saying it's wrong, I just have not heard of doing this yet. Why would you consistently add sugar every day?

 

[IslandLizard]

I'm confused by this... I'm not saying it's wrong, I just have not heard of doing this yet. Why would you consistently add sugar every day?

It's the only way to make an 18%+ beer. Look up Utopia (Sam Adams).

 

[cactusgarrett]

But, uh, it's finished already in 10 days?

This. Aside from a 10 day completion, this sounds like the last sugar addition was 2 days prior to considering it "done". I think i'd give it MUCH longer without worry about autolysis.

 

[anotherbeerplease]

OK by "done" I meant I'm done adding sugar additions. With this beer you keep it close to target FG throughout sugar additions, to ensure you aren't adding more sugar than the yeast can handle.

I'm close to my target FG but would like to give it as much time as I can - just not sure how long to leave the beer on the yeast cake since I've never done an 18+% beer. I assume autolysis would happen faster with such high gravity? With my other normal grav beers I am happy to leave in primary for 1+ months after finishing.

 

[IslandLizard]

10 days from brewing to an 18% beer is unbelievably fast!

Just fermenting a 10-12% beer takes at least 2 weeks, preferably longer, using low enough ferm temps to prevent fusel alcohols.

Then the sugar additions may take a few weeks. The later sugar + nutrient additions are usually smallish added every other day. That takes a lot of extra time.

 

[anotherbeerplease]

With a starter I've done double ipas in days, my last ipa was grain to glass in 6 days, this particular beer was already at 18% after 10 days, I do appreciate the input but I wasn't asking whether or not my beer is done, I was asking about autolysis in such a high abv beer.

 

[IslandLizard]

I was asking about autolysis in such a high abv beer.

I'm repeating myself:

I'd say you've got at least a month from when it finishes out.
Maybe contact White Labs?

 

[anotherbeerplease]

Yes I did see that, thanks