Belgian Dark Strong Ale The Pious - Westvleteren 12 style quad - multiple

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Is something like this available on the market for purchase or was it a custom fabrication to fit on the conical? I'm just using buckets and top cropping for harvest but would like to jump to a conical with more harvesting options. I like the top crop more for the yeast health but finding a way to do it with a conical is the goal to work for.

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It can be assembled with a combination of tri-clamp components (tri-clamp Eagle stainless bottle, reducer, stainless check valve, elbows, and T's). We also have a sight glass for viewing krausen flow that sits on the top of the fermentor (not pictured). As far as I know there isn't a kit or anything to buy the whole config in tact. There is one Belgian Brewery doing something similar which we modified for our testing fermenters, (17.5gal). The key need for us was to create a sealed system for a sterile yeast harvest. I forgot the total cost but it pays for itself quickly in krausen harvest, (2-3 batches). We generated enough WLP510 (Ardennes) krausen to cover most of our brewing with that strain this year. Since Ardennes is a Platinum series yeast and hard to find, it's *really* nice to build that much Platinum yeast from a slant

Edit: for the Westmalle strain we harvest from a Westmalle Extra brew. A good harvest is about 350-400 grams of refreshed krausen.

 

[ultravista]

CSI -

We've been tinkering with subtle changes with the Westvleteren 12 clone for just over 4 years now. This is a snapshot of highlights we've learned to date:

Have you compiled this into a new recipe?

 

[tehnick]

To my knowledge there is nothing on the market like this. It can be assembled with a combination of tri-clamp components (tri-clamp Eagle stainless bottle, reducer, stainless check valve, elbows, and T's). We also have a sight glass for viewing krausen flow that sits on the top of the fermentor (not pictured). There is one Belgian Brewery doing something similar which we modified for our testing fermenters, (17.5gal). The key need for us was to create a sealed system for a sterile yeast harvest. I forgot the total cost but it pays for itself quickly in krausen harvest.

Edit: for the Westmalle strain we harvest from a Westmalle Extra brew. A good harvest is about 350-400 grams of refreshed krausen.

What company manufactured the conical you are using in the photos?

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

What company manufactured the conical you are using in the photos?

We order from Brewer's Hardware:

http://www.brewershardware.com/Conical-Fermenters/

For big Belgian's these fermenters are great. 2" dump for heavy yeast flocc.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

CSI -

Have you compiled this into a new recipe?

We're working on it now

 

[LakesideBrewing]

Great thread! I'm planning on doing the Old World Version this week. Coincidentally, I have a Balcones Whisky Barrel on the way. Any thoughts on aging this beer in a whisk(e)y barrel? Pros, cons?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[tellyho]

I think whiskey barrel aging would make an interesting beer, but I don't really think it's appropriate for this beer. Try brewing the original recipe once and see if you think barrel aging would add to the effect. I can't see it enhancing the beer, just muddying flavors.


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[meadowstream]

What company manufactured the conical you are using in the photos?

I think brewer's hardware (and many others) buy from Chinese manufacturers and resell. There are some US manufacturers that you can choose if you want to. It is important to me to support sanitary pipers and welders in the US, but might not be important to others (no judging, just throwing it out there.)

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

I think brewer's hardware (and many others) buy from Chinese manufacturers and resell. There are some US manufacturers that you can choose if you want to. It is important to me to support sanitary pipers and welders in the US, but might not be important to others (no judging, just throwing it out there.)

Absolutely agree on support for US welders, (and supporting resellers). Send us a link for a Made-In-USA US supplier.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

I think whiskey barrel aging would make an interesting beer, but I don't really think it's appropriate for this beer. Try brewing the original recipe once and see if you think barrel aging would add to the effect. I can't see it enhancing the beer, just muddying flavors.


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Concur. IMHO, we're after a perfect Westvleteren 12 clone.

Whisky barrel aging and Chardonnay barrel aging (De Struise Brouwers, etc) makes great ale, just not appropriate for the Westy 12.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Great thread! I'm planning on doing the Old World Version this week. Coincidentally, I have a Balcones Whisky Barrel on the way. Any thoughts on aging this beer in a whisk(e)y barrel? Pros, cons?

Thanks,
Mike

If doing the Old World you may consider holding back on the Belgian Pale by about 50% and replace it with Pils....closer to the actual Westy 12 this way.

 

[LakesideBrewing]

If doing the Old World you may consider holding back on the Belgian Pale by about 50% and replace it with Pils....closer to the actual Westy 12 this way.

Thanks, I'm actually using the recipe on your site.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Thanks, I'm actually using the recipe on your site.

In that case...no changes necessary

 

[FatDragon]

I posted a few pages back about bottle-harvesting from a Westmalle Dubbel for an approximate clone of this recipe, working within my limited means as an overseas brewer with limited access to pro-quality ingredients. I was told bottle-harvesting that yeast won't be true to the pure strain. As I come closer to decision time - to brew or not to brew - I realized this might be a bigger problem than I was expecting.

If I bottle-harvest a Westmalle Dubbel, will I end up with a decent Belgian yeast (even if it's not exactly true to the Westmalle/Westvleteren strain), or am I likely to end up with some generic strain of bottle-conditioning yeast that won't brew anything remotely like a Belgian ale?

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

You could try it. If it's a top cropper with a yeasty fruity aroma then you're in the ball park.

 

[meadowstream]

working within my limited means as an overseas brewer with limited access to pro-quality ingredients...

There are several US home-brew stores that will ship yeast with cold packs - if you buy a few vials and have them shipped to where you live would that be economical?

 

[FatDragon]

There are several US home-brew stores that will ship yeast with cold packs - if you buy a few vials and have them shipped to where you live would that be economical?

With typically two weeks or longer of transit time, I'm not so certain the ice packs would hold out for a shipment to China. We've got a guy in Shanghai who imports liquid yeast and keeps some in stock or can import it on demand (very possibly the same as you're suggesting), but he charges about $25/vial and while I know he keeps it refrigerated, I'm not sure how fresh it would be when it got to me.

If I had a stir plate and flask, and a pressure cooker for slanting and/or a larger fridge/freezer for storing slants/extra slurry from starters, I would probably start building a collection, but the fact is that I'm in an apartment with a fridge that's about 25% too small for our food needs already, and with the exception of this proposed brew, I'm still a total yeast novice - pitching rehydrated dry yeast or, if I'm living on the edge, pitching on a yeast cake is all I've really needed to do so far.

One day, I hope to be as obsessed and knowledgeable as the old hands here on the forum, but for now, I'm a six-months-of-experience, dry yeast, feed-grade malt, BIAB sort of guy. I know that's not a very promising profile for someone trying to make anything even close to a Westy 12 clone, but barring a dump-worthy infection, the worst case scenario is that I'll end up with beer, and I'm willing to risk that.

 

[meadowstream]

FatDragon WhiteLabs might ship you vials directly: http://www.whitelabs.com/international-inquiries You want WLP530.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

With typically two weeks or longer of transit time, I'm not so certain the ice packs would hold out for a shipment to China. We've got a guy in Shanghai who imports liquid yeast and keeps some in stock or can import it on demand (very possibly the same as you're suggesting), but he charges about $25/vial and while I know he keeps it refrigerated, I'm not sure how fresh it would be when it got to me.

If I had a stir plate and flask, and a pressure cooker for slanting and/or a larger fridge/freezer for storing slants/extra slurry from starters, I would probably start building a collection, but the fact is that I'm in an apartment with a fridge that's about 25% too small for our food needs already, and with the exception of this proposed brew, I'm still a total yeast novice - pitching rehydrated dry yeast or, if I'm living on the edge, pitching on a yeast cake is all I've really needed to do so far.

One day, I hope to be as obsessed and knowledgeable as the old hands here on the forum, but for now, I'm a six-months-of-experience, dry yeast, feed-grade malt, BIAB sort of guy. I know that's not a very promising profile for someone trying to make anything even close to a Westy 12 clone, but barring a dump-worthy infection, the worst case scenario is that I'll end up with beer, and I'm willing to risk that.

Depending on the DHL service, you can have it in about 3-4 days. Customs clearance is super fast with DHL small packages. About the same time it takes to get it coast to coast here in the States. Have them pack the yeast with 2 cold packs. MoreBeer ships overseas and is on the West coast.

 

[butterpants]

6 month tastings are bringing in rave reviews!

 

[gwapogorilla]

CSI, you mentioned before about doing a repitch at bottling time using fresh krausen. I won't be able to do so, but I will be able to make a small starter to pitch. What yeast count do you recommend for this at pitching?

 

[LakesideBrewing]

Hey,

I'm 8 days into fermentation and this beer still has vigorous activity happening! Still has a thick krausen and is bubbling like crazy!

OG was 1.083 (a little low because I didn't boil down enough), I cooled the wort down to 63 degrees and pitched a 1.5 litter starter of 3787. Held at 66 degrees for 2 days, 68 for 2 days, 70 for 2 days, and is now currently at 72 degrees. I had high krausen by day 2 and needed a blow off tube for 5 days.

I normally don't worry about these things, but 8 days after pitching yeast I still have a ton of activity going on. I've never really seen that before. I'm not sure if I should start to cool this down or keep it at 72 degrees? Any help/ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[tehnick]

I'd keep it there and rely on your hydrometer to know when it's done. I've had beers that have been done for days but still had lots of activity in the airlock from degassing.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

CSI, you mentioned before about doing a repitch at bottling time using fresh krausen. I won't be able to do so, but I will be able to make a small starter to pitch. What yeast count do you recommend for this at pitching?

You can use a 500ml repitch.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Hey,

I'm 8 days into fermentation and this beer still has vigorous activity happening! Still has a thick krausen and is bubbling like crazy!

OG was 1.083 (a little low because I didn't boil down enough), I cooled the wort down to 63 degrees and pitched a 1.5 litter starter of 3787. Held at 66 degrees for 2 days, 68 for 2 days, 70 for 2 days, and is now currently at 72 degrees. I had high krausen by day 2 and needed a blow off tube for 5 days.

I normally don't worry about these things, but 8 days after pitching yeast I still have a ton of activity going on. I've never really seen that before. I'm not sure if I should start to cool this down or keep it at 72 degrees? Any help/ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

The only thing I am normally concerned about is drying out the ale too much. If you hit 1.013 and you still have activity, crash it for 3-4 days way down to 35-40F and dump the primary yeast cake. Hitting FG is important enough to go to the trouble of an early crash.

 

[jtp137]

The only thing I am normally concerned about is drying out the ale too much. If you hit 1.013 and you still have activity, crash it for 3-4 days way down to 35-40F and dump the primary yeast cake. Hitting FG is important enough to go to the trouble of an early crash.

So its ok to stop primary fermentation early? Lets say the beer can ferment down to 1.010 and you stop it at 1.013 by crashing and or moving vessels. I was under the assumption that after sugar is consumed the yeast clean up off flavors. Is this true?




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[sweetcell]

So its ok to stop primary fermentation early? Lets say the beer can ferment down to 1.010 and you stop it at 1.013 by crashing and or moving vessels. I was under the assumption that after sugar is consumed the yeast clean up off flavors. Is this true?

yup, i'm with you on that one. you should control your FG by recipe and process before fermentation, not by artificially stopping fermentation mid-way through.

If it looks like you're going to miss your target FG, fix it in the next batch. don't ruin the current batch by stopping the yeast in their tracks, before they've had time to re-absorbe diacetyl, accetylaldehyde, etc.

 

[marcb]

yup, i'm with you on that one. you should control your FG by recipe and process before fermentation, not by artificially stopping fermentation mid-way through.



If it looks like you're going to miss your target FG, fix it in the next batch. don't ruin the current batch by stopping the yeast in their tracks, before they've had time to re-absorbe diacetyl, accetylaldehyde, etc.

I second what sweetcell is saying, I undershot gravity the first time trying the old world traditional recipe and let it ferment down completely (holding temp) it stopped at like 1.003. This beer had enough complexity to it (and quite a bit dry) but at six months it is a close cousin in a head to head tasting to the original. I would have preferred to hit my targets but I'd rather still have an excellent beer at the end of the day! That same beer just took first in the World Cup of beers for the Belgian strong ale style!


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[jtp137]

I second what sweetcell is saying, I undershot gravity the first time trying the old world traditional recipe and let it ferment down completely (holding temp) it stopped at like 1.003. This beer had enough complexity to it (and quite a bit dry) but at six months it is a close cousin in a head to head tasting to the original. I would have preferred to hit my targets but I'd rather still have an excellent beer at the end of the day! That same beer just took first in the World Cup of beers for the Belgian strong ale style!


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So if you end up with a low FG like above its best to mash higher next time? I did a belgian with a 20% sugar addition fermented around 156 to try to get fg around 1.014 and it stopped at 1.025


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[marcb]

So if you end up with a low FG like above its best to mash higher next time? I did a belgian with a 20% sugar addition fermented around 156 to try to get fg around 1.014 and it stopped at 1.025


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I haven't tried mashing that hot yet, mine was an efficiency issue as I had the mash tun way too packed. I also didn't get the concentration I was looking for out of the boil after 100 minutes but we were doing tandem batches that day and taxing my electric system (pulling 100amps with a double boil going) and I yielded 37 gallons but had a very large starter as well ~6g. So at the end of the day I doubt I can reproduce the exact beer that I made last time which suck because it is awesome! I will try this again here in June or July so it has time to age ~6mos before the end of the year for a 95g batch.


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