Newbie Stout

[Nerro]

Never forget that a lot of the "knowledge" that people spew on the internet is no better than unsubstantiated ranting. The primary reason that people want to take their beer off the yeast cake seems to be that they fear autolysis of the yeast (yeast cells rupturing and releasing crap from inside).

If it works over six weeks for one yeast it PROBABLY will for other yeast strains as well. A lot of people don't even bother with the siphoning any more. The risk of contamination is not worth it.

 

[Willy Boner]

I've been leaving my brews in the primary for 3 to 4 weeks with good results so far. To the OP, you asked about an oatmeal stout recipe? I took my recipe form Bader Beer and Wine Supply's website. They have some very good extract with specialty grain recipes that you might be interested in as your next step. I used the Irish Creme Stout as my first brew I did over a year ago. It came out very good and I've been experimenting ever since a little at a time. For an oatmeal stout I just substituted flaked oats for the flaked barley. I also added a 1/2# of chocolate malt grains. I usually use dry extact instead of liquid. I also use a dry yeast (Safale 04 or Nottinghams). HAPPY BREWING!

 

[ruppe]

Thanks, Nerro. for setting me straight. I'm old, and old school, basing my "knowledge" on books I read when I first started, not stuff spewed on the internet. I don't brew enough, and get here less, but I'm glad when I do that I can learn. I'm sure the quality of yeast, as well as the experience of others has put my previous assumption to rest. My time is limited with 2 active teenagers in sports. I feel better that my timing as far as brewing has been expanded.

 

[WhyTee]

As a lot of people have said, leaving a beer in a primary can be a very good thing. I normally keep my beer in primary a while and a I got really lazy with my Dunkel and didn't bottle it for 6 weeks and it came out amazing

I'm with you, except most of my beers end up getting the "lazy" treatment. I'm by no means an expert or super experienced in brewing but I would guess my last 2 batches spent 6 weeks+ in primary without any problems. I had left my 3rd batch ever in the primary for close to 4 months and people still ask me to make it again because it turned out really well.

Has anyone ever experienced autolysis? If you have, how long did you let your beer sit?