BrakeleyBrewing
Active Member
I just ordered NB's Dawson's Kriek extract kit. I have heard a lot of confusing and conflicting information regarding the fermentation of this beer. It uses Wyeast 3278 lambic blend, and I want to age it for about a year, then blend it or bottle as-is depending on the sourness, and dump another beer right onto the cake.
The first issue I need to sort out is whether or not to rack to a secondary or not. The kit calls for a adding a cherry puree to the secondary and racking on top of it. I have heard that it is better to actually leave the beer on the yeast when aging lambics.
Also, should I use a plastic fermentation bucket or a glass carboy? I have read that the plastic allows too much oxygen transfer, and the beer will be sour and dry within a few months, but not have a good flavor. On the other hand, I have read that glass carboys don't allow enough oxygen, and some people carve an oak peg to use instead of an airlock to allow for some o2 transfer.
Any tips would be appreciated.
The first issue I need to sort out is whether or not to rack to a secondary or not. The kit calls for a adding a cherry puree to the secondary and racking on top of it. I have heard that it is better to actually leave the beer on the yeast when aging lambics.
Also, should I use a plastic fermentation bucket or a glass carboy? I have read that the plastic allows too much oxygen transfer, and the beer will be sour and dry within a few months, but not have a good flavor. On the other hand, I have read that glass carboys don't allow enough oxygen, and some people carve an oak peg to use instead of an airlock to allow for some o2 transfer.
Any tips would be appreciated.
