I am in the planning stages for starting a gueuze and I need some input.
I have a 50L stainless steel vessel that I plan on storing the gueuze in. My idea is to store/age the gueuze in the vessel and blend in it. 5 gallons of aged gueuze comes out once a year and is replaced with 5 gallons of fresh lambic.
First, does each batch of lambic have to sit in the carboy for 6 months to a year, or can I take it out of the carboy once it has finished fermentation and let it sit in the SS vessel?
Second, do I need to inoculate each batch of lambic (after the first) prior to racking to the SS vessel or can I ferment without the bugs and then rack the fermented beer into the SS vessel which contains bugs?
Third, I am thinking of putting some oak in the SS vessel to provide some wood flavor to the gueuze as if had been in a cask. Should I go with staves, cubes or chips?
Fourth, I assume that the gueuze needs contact with air (a very small amount). This should form a pellicle. Each year when the 5 gallons of gueuze is removed for serving and 5 gallons is added to replace it, the pellicle will be broken. Will the subsequent pellicles dissolve or can I expect some sedimentation in a few years?
I have a 50L stainless steel vessel that I plan on storing the gueuze in. My idea is to store/age the gueuze in the vessel and blend in it. 5 gallons of aged gueuze comes out once a year and is replaced with 5 gallons of fresh lambic.
First, does each batch of lambic have to sit in the carboy for 6 months to a year, or can I take it out of the carboy once it has finished fermentation and let it sit in the SS vessel?
Second, do I need to inoculate each batch of lambic (after the first) prior to racking to the SS vessel or can I ferment without the bugs and then rack the fermented beer into the SS vessel which contains bugs?
Third, I am thinking of putting some oak in the SS vessel to provide some wood flavor to the gueuze as if had been in a cask. Should I go with staves, cubes or chips?
Fourth, I assume that the gueuze needs contact with air (a very small amount). This should form a pellicle. Each year when the 5 gallons of gueuze is removed for serving and 5 gallons is added to replace it, the pellicle will be broken. Will the subsequent pellicles dissolve or can I expect some sedimentation in a few years?