Stuck lager fermentation explained

[chessking]

Throughout 25 years of brewing, I have my first stuck fermentation.

Or do I?

After a month in the fermentation chamber carefully raising the temps as I go, and using a good healthy Ayinger yeast that has never let me down, my gravity levels had not dropped below 1.030. This was a extract batch so one would assume it was mashed properly. The only other additions other than hops were adjuncts left over from when my lovely daughter moved on to college and I needed to clean out her apartment.
This included some maple syrup, agave nectar, and brown sugar in a plastic aftermarket container.

The wise among you may already sussed out my mistake, but at the time this was getting use out of surplus sugars. What a good Idea, and very responsible, thought I.

Except for the 'sugar not being sugar' component. That was new. When I tasted a sample of the beer 30 days into fermentation and that sweetness hit my throat, I had the confusion of the ages. How did I ruin my beer?

Trying to warm it up, agitate it slightly, even adding a top cropped kreuzen in an effort to restart some activity has led to naught.

Reason? My hippy dippy health conscious daughter apparently uses Truvia for God knows what reason. She has to be difficult even in her sugar acquisition. The least she could have done is leave it in the original container, or labeled it non-fermentable where a responsible home brewer could peruse its make up, and do the just and honorable thing and place it in the trash where it belongs. I mean, really, who buys consumables, without the thought of its fermentability?

My wife buys brown sugar for homemade cookies, and when they don't get made, and the sugar goes hard, guess what? It's time to make a Belgian. Same for the dark treakle. Sooner or later, that bad boy is getting itself into an old ale.

My problem now is: should I try some Beno, and would that even work? Or brew a really dry stout and blend it together for some sort of compromise where the sweetness would be less noticeable. I do not know.

Ideas?

 

[Bramling Cross]

You are certainly in the "Here Be Dragons" part of the map, sir.

I got nothing, but thank you for the fun post!

 

[mac_1103]

should I try some Beno, and would that even work?

Unlikely. I don't think there is anything in truvia that can be converted to fermentable sugar. How much of this stuff did you make?

 

[Bramling Cross]

Unlikely. I don't think there is anything in truvia that can be converted to fermentable sugar. How much of this stuff did you make?

I know nothing about truvia, but that seems reasonable to me.

The Beano will certainly do something, but it'll do it to the parts of the beer that he wants to leave alone. He'll just wind up with artificially sweetened rocket fuel.

The problem with Beano is it creates a runaway reaction. Even if it does affect the truvia, it's going to do a real number on the parts of the beer that he'd like to maintain.

 

[chessking]

Unlikely. I don't think there is anything in truvia that can be converted to fermentable sugar. How much of this stuff did you make?

I got five gallons, and other than the sweetness it seem to be a tasty beer. That's why I thought about blending it with a dry beer or perhaps one that was a hop bomb. Something that can handle a bit of sweet , or perhaps mask it. In 25+ years of brewing I have only dumped one batch, and do not want to lose another.

The Truvia brown sugar was only about 1/2 lb. Barely enough fermentables to tweak the o'l hydrometer, but without it fermenting, it is a bit oppressive like it is. I need a way of masking it.

 

[mac_1103]

That's why I thought about blending it with a dry beer or perhaps one that was a hop bomb.

I would be tempted to use a brut IPA. Doesn't get any drier than that. Maybe try some blends in the glass before you commit to anything.

 

[hiphoppotamuss]

interesting post! Quick web search on Truvia reveals that most of Truvia's sweetness comes from erythritol which is a sugar alcohol. Sadly I think you are stuck with sweet beer. I think your daughter owes you a beer kit!

 

[chessking]

I would be tempted to use a brut IPA. Doesn't get any drier than that. Maybe try some blends in the glass before you commit to anything.

That's kind of what I was thinking. I will go ahead and keg this, and then mix in the glass and see what I have then. It might take me a while to work through this sugar water, but on the bright side, all my other beers on tap will last a little bit longer.

 

[chessking]

interesting post! Quick web search on Truvia reveals that most of Truvia's sweetness comes from erythritol which is a sugar alcohol. Sadly I think you are stuck with sweet beer. I think your daughter owes you a beer kit!

I agree, there should be some compensation for the harm done to me and my beer. but she reminds me that when you hork other peoples sweeteners without asking first, its your own fault. I reminded her that fermentables are fair game in this household and always have been. She should know this.

Her retort was, as this item was actually not fermentable, it falls under different guidelines in the brewing hierarchy of applicable bylaws, and any grievance case I might pursue would fall on deaf ears.

So you see, its entirely my fault, letting her go to college.

 

[sibelman]

Probably a silly thought, but: in cooking one can balance sweetness with sour. Is that a thing with beer?

 

[hiphoppotamuss]

I agree, there should be some compensation for the harm done to me and my beer. but she reminds me that when you hork other peoples sweeteners without asking first, its your own fault. I reminded her that fermentables are fair game in this household and always have been. She should know this.

Her retort was, as this item was actually not fermentable, it falls under different guidelines in the brewing hierarchy of applicable bylaws, and any grievance case I might pursue would fall on deaf ears.

So you see, its entirely my fault, letting her go to college.

Sounds like she’s pre law.

 

[chessking]

Sounds like she’s pre law.

Worse. She's getting doctorate in philosophy.

I keep telling her that she's over-thinking it.

 

[Broothru]

Worse. She's getting doctorate in philosophy.

I keep telling her that she's over-thinking it.

Maybe she got it from you .

RDWHAHB.