irish red 18%abv

[D0ug]

lol

That's right, I forgot about that.

There is a technique for finding out if your FG is due to unfermentables. I believe it involves taking a small amount of your brew and pitching some yeast in that, doing a fast ferment, and seeing if the gravity in the sample has changed at all.

There are a few threads around here that mention it, anyone else know what I'm talking about?

 

[kegtoe]

i wouldnt recomend a starter with dry yeast. just do the rehydrate.

 

[D0ug]

some one tried this with their high FG brew to see if it would work:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/escape-stuck-fermentation-mountain-ae-rescue-212926/

He basically took a sample, added some amalayse enzyme, and watched it for a few days to see what it did. He liked the result, so he applied it to the bulk of the batch.

You could try the same thing, but with your yeast instead and see if it goes down any further.
If the yeast doesn't drop it any, you could always try the ae.

my 2 cents...

 

[Christafer11]

WOOOO HAAAA Just sipped from my sample bottle. Very strong alcohol up front and finished hint of sweet and smooth. I think it's a no go on more yeast it may dry it out just secondary and dry hop. I have to say I am really really happy with what I tasted expecting a alcohol syrup. Nothing like that at all just might be ok. Now one more question any ideas on figuring the actual abv? Would the best way be to take an exact size like 100ml and put that in a pot and boil the alcohol off and see whats left? If so what temp should I get it to and for how long? Also now that I am way more excited and optimistic about how this will turn out any reason I should bottle instead of keg I prefer to keg and have 2 empty. I was going to bottle thinking I may have to sit on this for a while but not so sure about that now.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

ABV = (og - fg) * 131

 

[bknifefight]

How much lower could you get with 5 lbs of crystal?!

I think you're misunderstanding the recipe. It seems to me that it is 2 lbs of Amber DME. There is still 3 lbs of steeping grains, which is a lot, but still.

 

[DKershner]

I think you're misunderstanding the recipe. It seems to me that it is 2 lbs of Amber DME. There is still 3 lbs of steeping grains, which is a lot, but still.

If they really are steeped (I see 3lbs too), then this beer should get low as a regular barleywine. 1.032 is quite reasonable for that OG.

Now just let it sit around for a year or two, then drink. Dry hopping probably wont help you much.

 

[Apendecto]

.

 

[Apendecto]

I think you're misunderstanding the recipe. It seems to me that it is 2 lbs of Amber DME. There is still 3 lbs of steeping grains, which is a lot, but still.

Whoops. I read through the thread and was quoting some other dude.

 

[Cape Brewing]

Wow, i just stumbled into this thread. First and foremost. Yoop... You're awesome.

Second, my opinion is worth zero so take anything I'm about to say as crap....

Is this "beer" bottled? (sorry, havent read every word)

I wpuldnt use champaigne yeast on any beer. Get some white labs 099 (If and thats a big IF you wanna dry this thing out even more).

Just tossing out an idea but... What about letting this batch sit on its own and age in the secondary... Making a five gallon batch of mead.... And ten combining the two to make a braggot? At some point i wpuld combine the two and then think about some oak to kill that alcohol.

The only thing I can think of to make it drinkable is to make it into a braggot. And if you do that, you might actually produce sonethig full of win.

 

[Haputanlas]

can you post some pics?

 

[Christafer11]

@ cape no not in bottles. I just put it in the secondary about 10 min ago. I did put the 2oz cascade hops in but no more yeast just what it started with (notty). @Haputanlas what pics would you like? It just looks like a beer in a carboy I did take a pic of the og @1132.

 

[D0ug]

Chris, wanna throw some in a bottle when it's and swap some?

 

[Christafer11]

hell yeah Ill post when its done prob let it sit in the secondary for a few weeks

 

[Christafer11]

Here is a photo from tonight in the secondary and added the hops. http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=1771250169932&set=a.1316357077889.2045919.1499587300

 

[Haputanlas]

Here is a photo from tonight in the secondary and added the hops. http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=1771250169932&set=a.1316357077889.2045919.1499587300

Says currently unavailable.

 

[Christafer11]

Yeah not sure why and hbt not letting me add photos or change my profile pic I think they have been having problems today with this site ...

 

[Yuri_Rage]

No site issues. You are hosting your pictures on Facebook. That almost never works well. Use Picasa, ImageShack, PhotoBucket, or similar.

 

[Haputanlas]

No site issues. You are hosting your pictures on Facebook. That almost never works well. Use Picasa, ImageShack, PhotoBucket, or similar.

Agreed. Picasa is my fav. Free and lots of space

 

[Christafer11]

HBT is having problems I am unable to change profile pic or upload from my computer to the gallery. I know the facebook pic does not usually work but I was unable to upload to HBT. I also read on another thread they were having problems and was off line today. I will try again tomorrow.

 

[Haputanlas]

Are you a paid member?

 

[Christafer11]

No not a paid member. But shouldn't I be able to set a profile pic? It will show up in the settings menu but noting showing up when I post.

 

[Cape Brewing]

@ cape no not in bottles. I just put it in the secondary about 10 min ago. I did put the 2oz cascade hops in but no more yeast just what it started with (notty).

if it is just in the secondary then I would do what I was suggesting and make a braggot. Put together a quick mead... let it ferment mostly out and then combine the two (the mead and your huge red)... i would then soak some oak chips in bourbon and add those to it at some point.

... just a thought.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Damn....too late! Cape beat me to it....keep the beer and blend it with other stuff. OR, just suck it up as a lesson learned and let it be one of those homebrews that only YOU drink. I bet the headache will be enough to keep you from doing it again Honestly, balance is a good thing. Even BMC drinkers can appreciate a well balanced beer, even if they don't like the style. People know quality when they taste it.

 

[Haputanlas]

No not a paid member. But shouldn't I be able to set a profile pic? It will show up in the settings menu but noting showing up when I post.

That is the way it is supposed to be. You only get the avatar when you pay.

Also, you don't get the gallery until you pay either.

 

[D0ug]

WOOOO HAAAA Just sipped from my sample bottle. Very strong alcohol up front and finished hint of sweet and smooth. I think it's a no go on more yeast it may dry it out just secondary and dry hop. I have to say I am really really happy with what I tasted expecting a alcohol syrup. Nothing like that at all just might be ok. Now one more question any ideas on figuring the actual abv? Would the best way be to take an exact size like 100ml and put that in a pot and boil the alcohol off and see whats left? If so what temp should I get it to and for how long? Also now that I am way more excited and optimistic about how this will turn out any reason I should bottle instead of keg I prefer to keg and have 2 empty. I was going to bottle thinking I may have to sit on this for a while but not so sure about that now.

Sounds like the OP is happy with it and is planning on letting it age to mellow it out more. It might take a few months, but it should mellow with time.

Personally, I think it's good plan. If it after 6 months or so it hasn't conditioned enough, maybe then it's time to think about blending it. But I think it's premature at this point. Maybe he's on to something.

 

[Christafer11]

Yeah D0ug I am happy with it up to this point. I did sample a little more last night when racking to secondary it is not overly sweet or off or bad tasting but has a strong alcohol taste and does burn a bit going down. And it's NOT dry like wine or champagne which I am happy about I don't like or drink either. I am not a fan of drinking something that leaves your mouth feeling like you need to drink something. My op was asking about what to do with yeast and possible dry hopping. There have been a lot of post about how stupid I am and he will "learn his lesson" bla bla bla, mix it with this mix it with that dump it. This is what home brewing is all about trying something new and doing something out of the ordinary. I have 3 kegs in my keezer right now so this is not my go to beer was something I brew a lot but add something to it and see what happens. If we were all happy drinking mellow watered down flavor less beer that was the most consistant beer in the world we would have a bud or coors. If you read back through this post and several others it's frustrating how much people just want say all the things people are doing wrong and not help ANSWER the effin question posted. But to the few that have had real actual solution answers and ideas thank you.

 

[Christafer11]

as to the avitar and photos oh well at this point I have NO interest in paying for this site. If you want to see the pics I put the link if it didn't work OH WELL.

 

[Haputanlas]

as to the avitar and photos oh well at this point I have NO interest in paying for this site. If you want to see the pics I put the link if it didn't work OH WELL.

I hope it is not because some asshats are giving you a hard time on this thread. Note that most of the non-productive stupid posts are from some of the newer members. Most long-timers are really really cool and willing to help out.

Also, i hope you didn't take some of the alternate-suggestion posts negatively. Most people with the suggestions think that they wouldn't like the recipe based on ingredients and specs alone. While they may be wrong about how you feel, their suggestions are meant only as an alternative for either experimemtation, or a way out if you feel the same as they do.

My opinion is to stick around, keep asking the questions and ignore the opinionated-only posts (unless you want the criticism). You can learn a lot from this site.

 

[Christafer11]

I am sticking around and will keep doing what I want like I said before that's one of the reasons we home brew. It's to bad hbt doesn't allow some pic's like 3 or so for the non paying members. @Hap noting personal about the pic thing. I know the good people are worth it and well outnumbers the bad.