Saison noob

[deanturbo]

Hey guys!

My first go with a Muntons "Belgian style" brew kit. I saw some really vigorous air lock action after about 24 hours and then nothing for two days.

Temperature is stable but right at the top of the temp range (68F).

How long before I intervene?

 

[ericbw]

What is the yeast you're using?

Is it in a bucket? You could have a leak so the airlock isn't showing activity (that's ok if so). I would wait 2 weeks and then check the gravity. But that's just me.

Even at the top of the range, you won't kill the yeast till you get over 100 - maybe as high as 120. SO it won't taste like it should, but if anything, it will ferment faster.

 

[deanturbo]

It's this one but it doesn't list the specific yeast:
http://www.muntonshomebrew.com/belgian-style-ale/

It's in a 23L bin which I've drilled to take a bung. So there's certainly scope for a leak!

 

[TurnipGreen]

Taking a couple consecutive gravity reading will tell you for sure. But like erikbw said just give it about two week and chances are it will be all done.

Even if u don't see air lock activity, you still want to give the yeast time to drop out of suspension and clean up. That usually takes a couple days.

 

[deanturbo]

Double-checked the lid and it wasn't clipped down properly.

OMG

Bubbling away nicely now (approx one every two seconds).

 

[deanturbo]

Just had a taste after four weeks and it's completely flat and not dry! I did think the second ferment wasn't very lively.

Should I go for a third ferment with more yeast?

 

[trav77]

Flat makes sense... The amount of co2 in solution from the primary is relatively small. It's won't taste carbonated until you've bottle conditioned it or kegged it with co2.

Take an SG reading with your hydrometer and let us know where it's at.

 

[beergolf]

Take a hydrometer reading to see where you are at. You are probably done.

Of course it will be flat. You need to add priming sugar at bottling time to get the beer to carb up.

 

[deanturbo]

Of course it will be flat.

Haha! Good point!

 

[ChemErik]

If you take the suggested hydrometer reading and it's still high, I wouldn't add yeast. Certain strains of Belgian yeast are known to stall out if they don't stay warm enough. You might need to warm up the beer to get the yeast to finish fermenting. A common way to warm the beer is a hot water bath (put you fermenter in a plastic storage bin and fill with warm/hot water. You can get help on details here if you need it. Note that this isn't good advice for most other styles.

 

[deanturbo]

1.008. Interesting! The instructions suggest 1.006.

 

[deanturbo]

1.008. Interesting! The instructions suggest 1.006.

 

[trav77]

1.008 and it tastes sweet to you? It's not going any lower.

 

[deanturbo]

It's not going any lower.

Hmm, I guess I'm not yet used to tasting beer without any fizz.

 

[trav77]

What yeast did you use? I guess I shouldn't say without question that it won't go lower but 1.008 is already fairly low FG.

 

[deanturbo]

What yeast did you use?

It actually doesn't have any details on the packet. I asked Muntons directly but no reply.

 

[Morrey]

Tasting an uncarbed beer and projecting how it will taste when carbed challenges even the most savvy brewers. To expect 1.006 and to be at 1.008 is well within reason to believe you are at your target Final Gravity (FG).

However, I typically give most of my beers two full weeks from yeast pitch to kegging (or bottling). I do so to allow the beer to settle off and clear, and to let the yeast clean itself of some unwanted off flavors it creates during fermentation.

Your airlock activity is a very false gauge of your fermentation progress whereas your hydrometer is a trusted source to gauge where you are in the ferm process. In typical beers you'll have real high airlock activity for around three days after launch, then it slows down drastically. Don't let this lull you into thinking you are done fermenting.

 

[ericbw]

Un carbed beer never tastes dry to me. But 1.008 should be dry.

 

[deanturbo]

All bottled and primed with those little sugar lozenges. (Which seemed kinda cool in the brew shop but might be a bit of a gimmick...)

Thanks, guys!

 

[deanturbo]

Opened a week early and served in my own upcycled glass... wow!

 

[radwizard]

Nice! Congrats

 

[Morrey]

Is it dry? How is the beer...the taste??

 

[DU99]

i use danstar belle saison dry yeast.works well be running it about 77-80F..

 

[deanturbo]

Is it dry? How is the beer...the taste??

Dry and with a really nice fine head. Very pleased!

 

[Morrey]

Yeah man...you got it going on! I like the color of your Saison, very good looking beer. The dryness and hay like nuisances you get in a proper Saison are superb. You nailed it!!