Racing fermentation?

Share your experiences of using brewing yeast.
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slurp the apprentice
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Racing fermentation?

Post by slurp the apprentice » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:05 pm

:? Having described on an earlier post the atomic reaction when i added my 2litre starter [WLP 380]to the german hefe i made the mistake of reading wheelers home brewing book in which he describes Racing fermentation.He states the usual cause is too high fermentation temp although he says dark beers can induce RF at normal temps i am certain i fermented at normal temp[as i always use heat pad] but he states off flavours are bound to result from RF.The fermentation has slowed right down to normal levels after reaching 1020 from o.g.of 1044 so have i had a racing fermentation and is my hefe destined to be s**t :evil: or am i paranoid :unsure: and i have only witnessed an excellent starter at work and the beer will be heavenly?

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:37 pm

or am i paranoid and i have only witnessed an excellent starter at work and the beer will be heavenly?
Yep paranoid...who said that :unsure: :P :lol:

Racing fermentations are about high temps/off flavours and ales of all types...but, Hefe's flavours and tastes are partly due to the higher fermentaion temps as are a lot of Belgium ales.

I guess it's relative, a British ale fermented at 25 deg + would/might be considered to be a racing temp, whereas for a Hefe it's still within limits.
I fermented mine at 22-24 and it was/is heavenly
i have only witnessed an excellent starter at work and the beer will be heavenly?
Couldn't have put it better myself :lol:

EDIT, Fusel (harsh) alcohols and esters are the main results of racers, esters in Hefe are good and give the clove and banana tastes.

slurp the apprentice
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Post by slurp the apprentice » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:47 pm

:D Cheers i am reassured,would you let the wort drop to 1010 or under then keg it leaving for a couple of weeks and whats the best way to keep the yeast cake until i need it for the next batch which i will brew next week?

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:08 pm

would you let the wort drop to 1010 or under then keg it
My first batch dropped from 1042 to 1014 after 5 days. I needed the fermentors so it got racked to corny at this point.
My second batch dropped from 1050 to 1010 in 4 days

I think the above examples show nicely, the difference between under and over pitching, the second batch having the entire yeast cake from the first :lol:
then keg it leaving for a couple of weeks
If you can yes. I drank some of the first batch from fermentor and when it got into the corny it went straight on tap. I think the amount of yeast in suspension was just right for my tastes.

The second batch also went on tap virtually straight away but this had far more yeast and pushed me to the limits...but I struggled on :roll: :lol:
I still have a corny of the second Hefe, the other corny from this batch is still on tap :shock:
whats the best way to keep the yeast cake until i need it for the next batch which i will brew next week?
I used a funnel and put the entire cake into a sanitised vinegar bottle. It's sitting in the fridge for a third use :wink:

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:12 pm

Oh,I forgot, if it has too much yeast for your tastes, let it settle, draw some yeast off, and then invert your corny a few times :wink:

slurp the apprentice
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Post by slurp the apprentice » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:17 pm

I used a funnel and put the entire cake into a sanitised vinegar bottle. It's sitting in the fridge for a third use :wink:[/quote] you didn't add anything else to create a liquid suspension ?

Vossy1

Post by Vossy1 » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:25 pm

you didn't add anything else to create a liquid suspension ?
No. I left a small amount of Hefe in the bottom of the fermentor, just enough to swill the yeast off the bottom. It filled 2 vinegar bottles, and once the yeast settles in the fridge I was left with each bottle containing 1/2 yeast 1/2 clear ale.

Before repitching onto the new wort, I let it warm to room temp, I tried to pour as much of the ale off as I could, and then pitched.
If you thought the first reaction is atomic...get ready for the second :shock: ....an evacuation protocol needs drawing up :lol:

The airlock was bubbling within 2hrs, by the morning (8hrs later) the floor was covered in yeast :shock:

slurp the apprentice
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Post by slurp the apprentice » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:40 pm

Yikes :shock: i understand why some forum members brew in sheds .I might seal off the shower room and ferment the next batch in the cubical with the heat pad run off an extention lead yes its probably illegal blah blah... but i will isolate the electric shower so it wont work just promise not to tell anyone :wink:

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