Scwarzbier ferment

[Turtletank]

I just finished brewing a schwarzbier 5 days ago. O.G. was 1.056, recipe O.G. was 1.052. I mashed it for 90 mins instead of 60 to get a more fermentable wort. Boil time was 60 but ended up being 75 to get enough wort boiled off. Ended up with 6 gallons. I was concerned about the extra boil time making it more bitter. The wort tasted sweet before i pitched yeast. Krausen has grown each day, almost out of the neck now. Is this a good thing?

 

[NTBeer]

It's the expected thing. Not sure what kind of airlock you are using, but you might want to use a blow off tube.

 

[Turtletank]

It's the expected thing. Not sure what kind of airlock you are using, but you might want to use a blow off tube.

Ok good to know. Ive just never had it grow to this size before. Yes i am using a blow off tube into a bottle of starsan. Is there any benefit to using a bucket for the rapid ferment stage.

 

[NTBeer]

A bucket is less likely to break and injure you. Your beer is less likely to oxidize in the carboy.

Congratulations, you have beer

 

[GoodTruble]

No need to be worried. Might want to keep a blowoff tube option onhand, but I'm guessing by Day 5, you will be in the clear. I keep a small bottle of fermcap around, just in case something gets really our of hand.

 

[Turtletank]

A bucket is less likely to break and injure you. Your beer is less likely to oxidize in the carboy.

Congratulations, you have beer

Good to know.

 

[Turtletank]

No need to be worried. Might want to keep a blowoff tube option onhand, but I'm guessing by Day 5, you will be in the clear. I keep a small bottle of fermcap around, just in case something gets really our of hand.

On day 5 now. Should i have added that when i pitched or is that something i can add if it gets too high. I have a blow off tube on, still getting pretty high.

 

[GoodTruble]

On day 5 now. Should i have added that when i pitched or is that something i can add if it gets too high. I have a blow off tube on, still getting pretty high.

Yeah, I meant that you would usually be fine if it hasn't blown its top by day 5.

You can add fermcap at the end of the boil or during fermentation. I don't worry about sanitizing the 3-5 drops, but you could put them in a thimble of boiling water before adding it you're worried. - Or just trust in blow tube to handle it if needed. It will be fine regardless.

 

[Kickass]

I was concerned about the extra boil time making it more bitter.

You will get more bitterness but not much. Bitterness starts to max out a little shy of 60 minutes. You may not have added enough additional IBU’s to really notice a difference.

 

[RM-MN]

A bucket is less likely to break and injure you. Your beer is less likely to oxidize in the carboy.

Congratulations, you have beer

I'm all for the bucket. While you may oxidize the beer to some extent with the bucket, breaking a carboy can send you to the hospital. I can drink somewhat oxidized beer, I can't drink it if I am in the hospital.

 

[Miraculix]

I'm all for the bucket. While you may oxidize the beer to some extent with the bucket, breaking a carboy can send you to the hospital. I can drink somewhat oxidized beer, I can't drink it if I am in the hospital.

I agree but I would choose a Speidel fermenter instead. All the plusses of the glass carboy, none of the risks.

 

[Steveruch]

I'm all for the bucket. While you may oxidize the beer to some extent with the bucket, breaking a carboy can send you to the hospital. I can drink somewhat oxidized beer, I can't drink it if I am in the hospital.

As long as you're gentle with the wort you'll be fine oxidation wise in a bucket.

 

[Miraculix]

As long as you're gentle with the wort you'll be fine oxidation wise in a bucket.

Depends on the bucket. I had air tight ones, that were as good as any speidel (the ones from maltmiller.co.uk) and I had leaky ones that got so much oxygen inside that acedobacter felt good enough to start growing after a week.

 

[Steveruch]

Depends on the bucket. I had air tight ones, that were as good as any speidel (the ones from maltmiller.co.uk) and I had leaky ones that got so much oxygen inside that acedobacter felt good enough to start growing after a week.

I guess I've just been lucky. In 24 years of home brewing in a bucket, including dry hopping and taking gravity samples, I've never had an issue.

 

[Miraculix]

I guess I've just been lucky. In 24 years of home brewing in a bucket, including dry hopping and taking gravity samples, I've never had an issue.

Maybe it was a very agressive strain of whatever in the house I was living in. I managed to brew a few beers in a bucket and from then on infection after infection... switched everything.. nothing worked. Only when I switched to something truely airtight, that madness stopped.

 

[Turtletank]

You will get more bitterness but not much. Bitterness starts to max out a little shy of 60 minutes. You may not have added enough additional IBU’s to really notice a difference.

Good to know, thanks kickass.

 

[Turtletank]

Yeah, I meant that you would usually be fine if it hasn't blown its top by day 5.

You can add fermcap at the end of the boil or during fermentation. I don't worry about sanitizing the 3-5 drops, but you could put them in a thimble of boiling water before adding it you're worried. - Or just trust in blow tube to handle it if needed. It will be fine regardless.

Oh, ok that seems pretty simple.

 

[Sam_92]

I use 3 gallon glass carboys and I don't leave very much head room because I'm greedy. My recent wit beer foamed through the airlock and eventually blew it off! I sanitized a new airlock and bung and sealed it back up and the beer turned out excellent, even my wife says so.

 

[Turtletank]

I use 3 gallon glass carboys and I don't leave very much head room because I'm greedy. My recent wit beer foamed through the airlock and eventually blew it off! I sanitized a new airlock and bung and sealed it back up and the beer turned out excellent, even my wife says so.

Lol wow. Glad it still worked out.

 

[Turtletank]

Update on the schwazbier.
My FG is 1.016 , I'm pretty happy with that. Also..wow. it tastes like a milk stout but not as strong. What temperature should i bottle condition it at?

 

[BrewZer]

Update on the schwazbier.
My FG is 1.016 , I'm pretty happy with that. Also..wow. it tastes like a milk stout but not as strong. What temperature should i bottle condition it at?

I use the following technique:

1. Room temperature for three weeks.
2. Pop a test bottle every week to gauge carbonation.
3. When it gets where I want it, I pop it in the fridge for long-term storage.

 

[Turtletank]

.

 

[Turtletank]

I use the following technique:

1. Room temperature for three weeks.
2. Pop a test bottle every week to gauge carbonation.
3. When it gets where I want it, I pop it in the fridge for long-term storage.

Prefect! Thanks, now waiting really will be the hardest part.

 

[SFC Rudy]

Skip the one week "test", all you're doing is wasting a good beer before it's time.

 

[GoodTruble]

I always bottle one in plastic so I can gauge the carb level without opening.

I also bottle one in a clear bottle to monitor color change, cloudiness, and sediment.

 

[Turtletank]

I always bottle one in plastic so I can gauge the carb level without opening.

I also bottle one in a clear bottle to monitor color change, cloudiness, and sediment.

Yah i started doing the clear bottle thing a few months ago too, but the plastic bottle for carb level is a great idea. I'll have to do that next batch.

 

[Turtletank]

Skip the one week "test", all you're doing is wasting a good beer before it's time.

True, my last batch was a belgian wit. I probably wasted 10 bottles before it was finished, seeing if they were done. I should add they were little bottles i saved just for that purpose. Maybe 180ml.

 

[GoodTruble]

These are my favorite plastic bottles. -They are big enough to take the pool/beach/lake/park and share with a friend.

BrewDemon Basic 8 Bottling System (1-Liter) Amazon.com: BrewDemon Basic 8 Bottling System (1-Liter): Home & Kitchen

 

[Turtletank]

These are my favorite plastic bottles. -They are big enough to take the pool/beach/lake/park and share with a friend.

BrewDemon Basic 8 Bottling System (1-Liter) Amazon.com: BrewDemon Basic 8 Bottling System (1-Liter): Home & Kitchen

Pretty good price too but damn.... the same product in the Canadian amazon app is $91!

 

[GoodTruble]

Wow. I wonder if you could order directly from brewdemon's website.

https://brewdemon.com/