First time using this yeast (Omega). I am trying to get the most esters, so I know where I stand. Simple grain bill; 19 lbs two row, 1 lb crystal 10L. 1 oz Amarillo hops, half at 60 min. the other half at 15. My aim was to pitch at 90, but turned out to be 88. I have to get used to controlling hotter pitch temps. Usually it is just cold as I can get it. Pitched right out of the packet, 7 gallons at 1.073. I am fermenting outside on my patio. First night it got cool out, and the wort temp dropped to 67. I moved the Fastferment into direct sunlight, covered in a black quilted ferm wrap. Ambient temp went up to 107 in the sum, but so far I I have not been able to break the 88 deg mark. Next time I will use the seedling mat. I didn't think it would be this hard to get wort temps up into the 90's when fermenting outside in direct sunlight wrapped in a black blanket!
After 20 hours I had a nice krausen to harvest. It seems when I skimmed the krausen off, it pissed the little bastards off! My flask sample looked like it was carbonated! After the first 20 hours, I went from 1.073 to 1.062 for an 11 point drop. So, I am 3 days in, and it is still bubbling away. It seems like this yeast is a workhorse rather than a thoroughbred. It doesn't take off with a bang, and then slowly clean things up like a lot of yeasts do. It just keeps chugging away at a steady pace, no matter what the temp.
I am hoping to bottle by Friday. I am going to condition hot too and see how fast that that goes as well. Most of the info I have read so far has all been forced carbed. I really enjoy saisons and big Belgians, so I am thinking of using the kvriek as a finishing yeast after I I get the phenolics off of Belgian yeast. On deck I have a pack of Omega Saisonstien's Monster. Should be interesting!