New brew, crazy yeast!

[docz]

Ok, I set out to create a IPA with some of the leftovers I had. So this is what I tried:

(1 gallon batch)
300g Weyermann Dunkel Malt extract
100g Local made pale malt extract
50g Amber malt (mashed)
80g Crystal malt (mashed)
50g Red crystal (mashed)
10g Tettnager 60 minute
10g Tettnager 30 minute
8g Tettnager 10 minute
8g Tettnager dry hopped
Pinch of Irish Moss
5g Saffale US-05

Boiling went well, mashing went well. This time I made a starter and pitched it after shaking the wort.

It started bubling after 30 minutes so I thought it was good to go.


This morning there was a little foam in the airlock, so I cleaned it, sanitized it and put it back. Then I went to a playdate with my kids. When we got home the yeast had blown through the airlock and all over my kitchen - wifey not happy.....

So I built sort of a makeshift jumbo-airlock. Using some tubing and another carboy with water. This thing has been bubling like crazy! I guess 5g was a little too much yeast?

I hope it is ok, because the wort tasted awesome! The color is a bit dark for an IPA, but these days IPAs come in a variety of colors. IBU is 50 - 60 so it's in the ballpark. OG about 1.031 so I hope this will hit my target of 3.0 - 3.9% alcohol. But that yeast is really going to town!

 

[Dynachrome]

...is the open end of the hose below the surface of the water on outgoing end of your blow-off?

Yeah, that S-05 is pretty crazy stuff.

You need to leave head space.

 

[BobC]

it's just good healthy yeast doing there thing. Nothing to worry about.

 

[docz]

yes, open end is submerged. I gathered it would function as an airlock.

 

[docz]

You need to leave head space.

I did! I left 500ml of space + the top. Same I did for my porter, porter was well behaved, this stuff.. is from outer space hehe.

 

[docz]

Will this yeast volcano settle down to more normal bubbling? Or will I have to keep using my ginormous airlock for the duration of fermentation? (My wife is getting anxious to free up kitchen space, and she's allready not a big fan of my new found hobby...)

 

[BobC]

I'm sure it won't be soon enough for your wife, but it will.

 

[PhelanKA7]

So I built sort of a makeshift jumbo-airlock. Using some tubing and another carboy with water. This thing has been bubling like crazy! I guess 5g was a little too much yeast?

Popping airlocks have less to do with the amount of yeast and more to do with pressure/temperature of your fermenter and the paths of least resistance OUT of said fermenter. ALWAYS use a blowoff tube... Airlocks should be banned from homebrew shops IMO. They have probably gotten more people out of the hobby than almost anything.

 

[Dynachrome]

I am in transition. I used to bucket ferment - probably still will in addition to carboys.

The only time I have used a carboy so far, I did some reading first.

Someone said leave the stopper loose till it settles down and then cinch it down.

I tried it and liked the results.

 

[docz]

What is a blowoff tube?

 

[PhelanKA7]

What is a blowoff tube?

Basically the setup you have now judging from your picture. I think a lot of your problem is the lack of head space as well. That krausen has nowhere to go but UP into your stopper, in the process pushing it off.

 

[walt3120]

I see one problem with your experimental batch..... it will be the best beer you ever brewed and then you'll never be able to replicate it again!

 

[docz]

well, it wasn't that hard, I think I should be able to replicate it faily well. But I am limied to these 1 gallon batches. Because I can only drink 6 oz of beer a week, at least for now..

DocZ

 

[docz]

Just wanted to ask some more questions.

Bubling has now settled, no more floating yeast colonies. Is it ready for bottling? It is still a bit cloudy, does that mean I should leave it in there until it clears more out?

DocZ

 

[ruralbrew]

Just wanted to ask some more questions.

Bubling has now settled, no more floating yeast colonies. Is it ready for bottling? It is still a bit cloudy, does that mean I should leave it in there until it clears more out?

DocZ

Just stick it in the fridge for a few days. It probably won't completely clear but it should help a lot.

 

[freshhoarse]

Check the specific gravity... only way to tell if it's finished.

 

[TheHairyHop]

Yes, check the gravity over three days. If it doesn't move, you're good! I need to be better about that myself

 

[docz]

Ok, so I bottled it today. It has been steady on 1.010 now for a couple of days.

Color was actually a lot lighter than I expected! Looks great! amber/nut brown thin cola color. Taste was out of this world, you guys were right, this may be the best beer I ever had

I can't wait to taste it when it's done.

Thanks for all your input guys.

Now what to brew next.... Maybe lager?

 

[docz]

So if my OG was 1.031 and FG was 1.010 this means that this beer is about 2.75% alcohol? Which is awesome for me since that means I can drink it

 

[highgravitybacon]

So if my OG was 1.031 and FG was 1.010 this means that this beer is about 2.75% alcohol? Which is awesome for me since that means I can drink it

Close enough. I get 2.61%@68f. That will be a solid easy drinker.

 

[Dynachrome]

So if my OG was 1.031 and FG was 1.010 this means that this beer is about 2.75% alcohol? Which is awesome for me since that means I can drink it

Do you have health issues that preclude you from drinking higher alcohol beers?

 

[docz]

Yes, I had abdominal surgery, removing a big chunk of my intenstines. Alcoholic beverages now is not prohibited, but it is not good for me. Also my new innards take up alcohol extremely rapidly, so a glass of wine makes me not only silly drunk - but on the verge of alcohol poisening. So one session beer @ 2.5% feels like a six-pack or two of regular beer. Which is why I am sticking to brewing session beers in small quantities.

 

[docz]

Taste reports!

Tasted it at three times this year.

The first time was at easter, so it had not matured completely yet. The taste was very fresh, acidic and hoppy, with a little body. A little breadiness was present. I didn't like it as much as my porter.

Tasted it again two months later at our national holiday, may 17th. The breadiness was gone, and the acidity had calmed down, and I really liked it a lot better. The two extra months of maturing did wonders for this beer.

Tasted it a third time three months after the second test, and my oh my did it taste great! Hands down best beer I have ever tasted! seems 6 months after bottling made it pop! Breadiness was gone, hoppyness had settled a bit, still hoppy, but more balanced. I can't really compare it to anything else, it was really unique, and very pleasant!

I have saved one bottle for christmas, maybe the additional months of maturing made it taste even better.

 

[TheHairyHop]

It's funny how different people's tastes are. It's the opposite for me. The younger the IPA, the better!