I went big on a beer last night, used a blow-off tube, and still had a HUGE mess this morning. I have a couple of questions for you guys, but I'll outline the brew first.
About a three weeks ago, I brewed a blonde (pale ale?) with the intention of bottling and adding my big beer directly to the yeast cake.
The first beer was 3 gallons final volume with OG 1.05 - very basic as I didn't want to impart flavor to the next brew.
7 lbs 2-row pale malt.
.2oz Citra 60 mins.
.25oz Citra 20 mins.
1 vial White Labs Irish Ale in 1000ml starter on stir plate 36 hours
Mashed at 150F
90min. boil
45 seconds O2/O2stone
The big beer I was going for was an Imperial Irish Red (hence the yeast choice previously)
Final Volume 3.25 gallons OG 1.08
11lbs Pale ale Malt
7oz Crystal 20
3oz Organic Roasted Barley
1.2oz E Kent Goldings 60 mins
.3oz E Kent Goldings 20mins
Boil 90 mins
1 minute O2/O2stone
When there was about 20 or so minutes left on the boil, I bottled the first beer, covered the carboy with sanitized foil and chilled the Red to 64F. Poured onto the yeast cake in original 5 gallon carboy, hit it with the O2 and secured blow off tube. Everything went off perfectly - hit the OG and volumes I was looking for and the color already looks spot on. By the time I was done cleaning my gear, it was already showing signs it had started. I know that pitching onto an old cake can cause a violent fermentation, but I figured the blow off tube and head space would compensate. I went to bed, came down, and my blow off tube was literally blown 10 feet across the room and about a gallon of wort was on the floor. I cleaned up everything and gave the outside of the carboy a good scrub with Starsan.
Sorry, I was too groggy to remember to take a picture - it was epic.
Two questions after all of that:
Anybody have this happen and still have a successful brew (no contamination)? I'd hate go through all of the work to come up with a spoiled brew.
Second, the plan was to rack to a 3 gallon carboy and age it, but now I'm stuck with an odd 2.25-2.50 gallon volume which will turn to 2 after trub - I'd rather not rack to two one gallon jugs, so maybe just let it sit in primary a month or so and age in bottles?
Thanks for the suggestions!
About a three weeks ago, I brewed a blonde (pale ale?) with the intention of bottling and adding my big beer directly to the yeast cake.
The first beer was 3 gallons final volume with OG 1.05 - very basic as I didn't want to impart flavor to the next brew.
7 lbs 2-row pale malt.
.2oz Citra 60 mins.
.25oz Citra 20 mins.
1 vial White Labs Irish Ale in 1000ml starter on stir plate 36 hours
Mashed at 150F
90min. boil
45 seconds O2/O2stone
The big beer I was going for was an Imperial Irish Red (hence the yeast choice previously)
Final Volume 3.25 gallons OG 1.08
11lbs Pale ale Malt
7oz Crystal 20
3oz Organic Roasted Barley
1.2oz E Kent Goldings 60 mins
.3oz E Kent Goldings 20mins
Boil 90 mins
1 minute O2/O2stone
When there was about 20 or so minutes left on the boil, I bottled the first beer, covered the carboy with sanitized foil and chilled the Red to 64F. Poured onto the yeast cake in original 5 gallon carboy, hit it with the O2 and secured blow off tube. Everything went off perfectly - hit the OG and volumes I was looking for and the color already looks spot on. By the time I was done cleaning my gear, it was already showing signs it had started. I know that pitching onto an old cake can cause a violent fermentation, but I figured the blow off tube and head space would compensate. I went to bed, came down, and my blow off tube was literally blown 10 feet across the room and about a gallon of wort was on the floor. I cleaned up everything and gave the outside of the carboy a good scrub with Starsan.
Sorry, I was too groggy to remember to take a picture - it was epic.
Two questions after all of that:
Anybody have this happen and still have a successful brew (no contamination)? I'd hate go through all of the work to come up with a spoiled brew.
Second, the plan was to rack to a 3 gallon carboy and age it, but now I'm stuck with an odd 2.25-2.50 gallon volume which will turn to 2 after trub - I'd rather not rack to two one gallon jugs, so maybe just let it sit in primary a month or so and age in bottles?
Thanks for the suggestions!
