Russian Imperial Stout

[Dudest]

I am 6 days into the ferm.with the bb ris kit it needed a blow off tube for the first 24 hrs. OG was 1.070 this is only the second batch i have ever brewed and i hope it doesn't taste as hoppy as it smells..

 

[RIC0]

People are suggesting two packs because proper pitching rate is a function of your beer's original gravity. For high enough gravity beers (don't know the OG of this particular RIS, but a typical RIS would fall into this category), you're not going to hit recommended pitching rates with 1 pack of yeast for 5 gallons of beer.

Consequences of underpitching range anywhere from minimal (i.e. possibly unperceptable) to off flavors to significant under-attenuation.

Before anyone chimes in with "i only pitched one packet and everything turned out fine".... that's great. I'm happy it worked for you. But pitching the proper amount of yeast is still a better idea.

mrmalty.com for everything you want to know about pitching rates.

and there ya have it boys and girls and creatures from all over.

 

[ggriffi]

Been reading this thread for info as I just brewed my first RIS on Saturday. I did double pitch my yeast. It's been bubbling away since and I have to add the bourbon,oak, and vanilla in a few days. It hit 1.080 og.

 

[Dudest]

I got lucky then. I only pitched the packet with my kit fg was 1.020 abv 6.5%

 

[sweed]

Been reading this thread for info as I just brewed my first RIS on Saturday. I did double pitch my yeast. It's been bubbling away since and I have to add the bourbon,oak, and vanilla in a few days. It hit 1.080 og.

I'd wait until fermentation is done after about a month, then rack to a secondary with those additions.

 

[maynardtl8]

Hi guys. I think IMO that pitching for such a high gravity wort (1.102 i think someone said), making a yeast starter would help the yeast get a good kickstart before pitching it straight in. Also, its a great way to make sure your dry yeast is a strong viable strain and you have no issues compared to a smack-pack activator that indicates your yeast is good.

 

[RIC0]

I rehydrate all yeast for normal beers.

Anything that should be 1.070 or higher gets a starter or if I'm lazy will get 1.5 packs of yeast instead of 1. Both do the job just the same I think.

 

[Jebu1788]

Hi guys. I think IMO that pitching for such a high gravity wort (1.102 i think someone said), making a yeast starter would help the yeast get a good kickstart before pitching it straight in. Also, its a great way to make sure your dry yeast is a strong viable strain and you have no issues compared to a smack-pack activator that indicates your yeast is good.

http://www.mrmalty.com/pitching.php

The section "Pitching From Tubes, Packs, or Dry Yeast" will lend a bit of clarity here. The kicker is dry yeast=no starter.

 

[ggriffi]

I'd wait until fermentation is done after about a month, then rack to a secondary with those additions.

I bought the AHS Oak Aged Bourbon Stout and their instructions so to add after 7 days. Am I better off waiting until I rack?