AG#22 - Belgian Strong Golden (Duvel Yeast)

[jmc]

Cool pics thanks for sharing, i bet it turns out to be a belter even with the lower than expected OG.

Thats a super clear cold break you have going there, does it get that clear after the 40 min rest or as soon as you get below 25c?

Thats a good idea using a strainer to airate, how effective is it?

Cheers Baz.

Hi Baz

I use 1/2 a protofloc tablet 15 mins before flame-out
Lots of hot break at flame out but all mixed up.
I then cool quickly, stir like mad for 15-20mins to get below 25C.
Then remove cooling coil, stir for a minute to get slight wirlpool effect, cover & leave for 40mins.
During this time hot & cold break settles down.

Strainer works well for me. I always get 2-6 inches of foam. Too much sometimes.
Luckily all recent brews have got going fairly quickly, i.e. within 12-24 hours

Brew smelt quite spicey today, reminded me of Christmas cake.
Keeping at 20C at the moment.

ATB
John

[stringy]

Like with the milk-bottle next to it, I just used the Duvel bottle labels on it to remind me what yeast it is.

Swing bottle is an old Cornish Cider growler

ATB John

Ah, should really have noticed that! Where did you get it from? I've had a bit of a goole & cant seem to find any, maybe they don't do it in the swingtops anymore.

[jmc]

Hi stringy

Unfortunately I don't think they produce a 4pt / 2L swing-top version anymore.

Nearest thing I can find that's commonly available is the 2L one from Westons
eg
Westons Scrumpy Cider (2L) at ASDA


*** EDIT ***
I found the web page to the place where I got the swing-top.
It was Cornish Scrumpy (Legless but Smiling) from the Cornish Cyder Farm

They've re-branded themselves in past few years, selling Cornish 'Rattler' now
see http://www.thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk/prodcyder.htm
They still sell scrumpy from the shop in various size flagons but not sure the 2L one is a swing-top.
Hard to tell from picture:


ATB John

[jmc]

Hi

Brew now down from 1064 to 1011 in day 15.
I was hesitant to increase temp too quickly as I wanted to avoid off-flavours generated during yeast growth.
I started at 18C and slowly increased past 20C.
Currently just increased to 26C

Duvel yeast seems to be going well.
Brew seems to be still going strong even though SG down to 1011

Next step is to to add some honey (~450g) and I wondered whether I should add to primary, after pasturising and cooling.

Alternative is to add to a clean secondary and add brew to this, but I'm concerned than shock may halt yeast.

Any ideas?

I don't normally do this but I've been regularly testing brew SG using refractometer. Adjusted SG figures and temp listed in graph below.

ATB John

[llannige]

Great post this.

Following with interest.

[floydmeddler]

Next step is to to add some honey (~450g) and I wondered whether I should add to primary, after pasturising and cooling.

Alternative is to add to a clean secondary and add brew to this, but I'm concerned than shock may halt yeast.

ATB John

I've added honey to primary when fermentation has died down VS added honey to secondary then racked the beer in on top. The latter wins BIG TIME. My experience with honey (and I've had a bit) has taught me a few things:

1. Always use good quality honey such as Rowse

2. Pasteurize with care. Bring SLOWLY to around 83c. You don't want any bubbling around the edges as this means that some of the honey is actually boiling. Allow to sit covered for 15 mins

3. Only use in a secondary vessel This ferments it out slowly over approx 2 weeks as there is very little yeast in there. I've read that the flavours / aroma can easily disappear in primary as the ferment is too vigorous and a lot of the aroma gets blown out the airlock. My own experience backs this up.

My Belgian Honey Beer has a fantastic honey hit and I followed all of the above. There's my penny's worth!

[jmc]

Hi Floyd

Thanks for the detailed advice.

What temp do you brew honey in secondary at?

TIA John

[floydmeddler]

Around 20c.

[jmc]

Hi Floyd

Thanks for reply. OK I take your point. I'll ferment out primary, leaving a couple of days at FG then cool over a couple of days to 20C, so as yeast doesn't get too much of a shock, then siphon to secondary with honey.

Primary must be nearly finished now as I started 16.5 brix and down to 7.5brix now. I make that about 1008 now.
BTW I edited the previous post with the graph so you can see the right-hand-side temperature axis now.

Maybe I'm being too careful with the yeast, but I don't want it to go dormant before I add the honey.
It would be a shame to end up with a stopped, sweet ferment (potential bottle-bombs)

I have to say is smells and tastes quite different to any other brew I've done, so hopefully it will be worth the effort.

Note to self: Must make progress getting other fermenting fridge working as this brew has been hogging my only current working fermenting-fridge. Once I have both fridges working I won't be so impatient with brews like this.

ATB John

[floydmeddler]

All sounds good John. After the honey addition, mine finished at 1004. I'm brewing this again next week: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=35516&hilit=+typhon Plan on getting the yeast started tomorrow. Very excited!!

[jmc]

I've added honey to primary when fermentation has died down VS added honey to secondary then racked the beer in on top. The latter wins BIG TIME. My experience with honey (and I've had a bit) has taught me a few things:

1. Always use good quality honey such as Rowse
...
My Belgian Honey Beer has a fantastic honey hit and I followed all of the above. There's my penny's worth!

Hi Floyd

This brew ready to go to secondary.

There are lots of types of Rowse honey.
Did you use a single jar of Rowse Clear Honey (400G)

TIA John

[floydmeddler]

Yes John, I did.

[jmc]

Hi
Just an update...

Secondary with honey ( single jar of Rowse Clear Honey 400G) finished last weekend.
FG 1004-1006

Clearing well so I bottled it last weekend.


Had a taste when bottling and its tasting clean with a mix of honey and blonde.
Very hopefull!

ATB
John

[floydmeddler]

Glad you went for the Rowse. That's going to be a cracking beer!!

[floydmeddler]

How's this doing now John?