Starter for 2.5 gallon batch of Tripel?

[CascadesBrewer]

What do you mean by higher ABV?

The Dubbel with WLP530 was in the 8% range, and that one surprised me a bit. I have read a few stories of people having carbonation issues with WLP530 (which is similar to WY3787 and Imperial Triple Double).

You can get a pack of CBC-1 for $5 and there is plenty of yeast in a pack for 15 or 20 gallons. If I am putting the effort into brewing something in the 9% and above that I plan on bottling, I look at some bottling yeast as very cheap insurance. I think I have head recommendations for Lalvin EC1118 as a bottling yeast. I see that listed for around $1.30 for a 5 gram pack.

 

[brew_mama]

I opened up one today and it has improved. There is some carbonation where there was none two weeks ago, but it is not where it needs to be and still tastes a little flat. Back to waiting...

 

[RM-MN]

I opened up one today and it has improved. There is some carbonation where there was none two weeks ago, but it is not where it needs to be and still tastes a little flat. Back to waiting...

What is the temperature where the bottles are stored. Higher ABV beers should take a little longer to carbonate and the temperature makes a big difference it how long it takes too. I'd be trying to keep them in the mid 70's for carbonation or maybe even a little warmer.

 

[brew_mama]

What is the temperature where the bottles are stored. Higher ABV beers should take a little longer to carbonate and the temperature makes a big difference it how long it takes too. I'd be trying to keep them in the mid 70's for carbonation or maybe even a little warmer.

It's about 73-75

 

[MikeCo]

That’s plenty warm. The fact that the carbonation is increasing is a a good sign. Give it a couple more weeks and try another.

 

[brew_mama]

Looks good now. 6 weeks in the bottle. Although it tastes good, you really can't taste the carbonation much.

 

[MikeCo]

Looks great. Do you mean it still doesn't feel carbonated enough to what you targeted? It may not be fully caronated yet, even though it's been 6 weeks. Keep the bottles warm and try another one in 2 weeks.

 

[brew_mama]

Yeah it’s kind of hard to explain but when I drink it, I just don’t feel the carbonation. It’s not flat tasting but it’s not as carbonated-feeling as I’d like. I put enough priming sugar for 3 volumes of CO2.

 

[TheCache]

Since CBC-1 showed up earlier in this thread I thought I'd mention that I tried it for the first time on the 8% Dubbel I just brewed. It was 3 gallon, all grain and spent 3 weeks in fermentation with Omega 028 yeast. When I bottled, I rehydrated 2-3g of CBC-1 in 50ml of water and added it to the bottling bucket with 2.6oz priming sugar. After 14 days I had to test one since I had never used CBC-1 and was a bit worried. It was great, nicely carbonated with good flavor. The head is still young (larger bubbles), but I have now moved the bottles to a 62˚ basement room where they'll sit for another 3-4 weeks before heading to the fridge.

I have read that CBC-1 shuts down all other yeasts in the brew. Not sure if that is accurate, but that's why I was somewhat concerned that if it did not work would it stop all of the carbonation fermentation activity. But, it worked great and I'll add it to my list of tricks.