Smoked Maple Saison

[HawleyFarms]

Ou, ou Belle Saison . . . . I love that yeast.

Same here, I have been using it in a ton of cysers and meads and it always turns out well.

I'm actually surprised tho, the over-pitched T-58 starter is already working so I'll probably toss it in the carboy in the morning. Thinking about a blow off tube for this one.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Well notice that my yeast starter went crazy overnight, pitched it into the carboy at about 6:30 this morning and went to work. Went home at 8 to pick up my wife, took one look at the carboy and put it into the sink.

Violent fermentation! I knew I should have put a blow off tube on this morning but didn't have time so just screwed the airlock on. Airlock is now full of beer. Come lunch time going to get the tube on.

Not sure what I was thinking. Should have only use a little bit of that starter since I used damn near half a packet of yeast. No more early morning pitching!

 

[HawleyFarms]

Ran home on lunch and looks like the most explosive part of ferment is over, cleaned and replaced airlock, still bubbling 2-3 times a second but I think it'll be fine. Worst case I'll have to clean it again, definitely leaving it in the sink for the day.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Well, it looks like my massive overpitch didn't hurt things much. 2 days in a row at 1.015, only overshot fg by .003 and nearly cleared already. It does have a slight maple flavor but not as much as I hoped for. As I suspected, I think the smoked malt was old and stale, not even a hint of it. A little over-bittered. I think next time I will only do the one addition of hops or cut both additions in half maybe. Going to give it another week before I do much with it.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Looks like this brew is going to sit til at least this weekend. Going to get some lactose and some Watkins maple extract and rack it into a secondary with the 2. Let it set another week and see if it's ready for bottling. Tastes pretty good right now but i'd like a little more maple flavor and a touch more sweetness. Also thinking about steeping a touch more of the smoked malt when I boil the lactose since there is no smokiness to the beer. Pretty sure the smoked malt was old and stale.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Well I got this bottled last weekend and cracked one open last night. A little undercarbed. And way over-smoked. Have never used smoked malt before but I know now that the flavor and aroma doesn't really hit you until its been bottled.

I bottled with 2 tablespoons honey and 1tsp maple extract. The maple doesn't hit you in the face like the smoke does. When I brew this again, i'm going to cut down to 1.5oz on the smoked malt and prime with maple syrup. Will also probably increase maple extract to 1.5 teaspoons. Will post a pour tonight.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Edit 3/3/15: Now that this is carbed and in the fridge, I would probably not change anything more than adding a little more maple extract before bottling. This stuff tastes great, even if its a little heavy on the smoke.