First Attempt: Woodforde's Wherry!

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

*** STUPID QUESTIONS ALERT!! ***

- The head of the heater needs to be above the level of the liquid, so how does this play out when you have a fairly foamy head up in the early days of fermentation? Wouldn't something like Cooper's Stout foam like a bugger and maybe damage the heater?

- What temp. will I set it at? 20?

- What do you reckon I'm looking at for a FG here, 012? Or do I need to get it down lower?

Thanks lads, yere patience knows no bounds!

[beery]

Hi there At.Ailbhe's Brewery,

Best to keep head of heater out of wort, like heater intructions say. I doubt the foam will get inside (even Coopers Stout volcano effect).But the liquid may get in if the heater is fully submerged. Cut a small notch out of top of FV with stanley blade. Does not need to be full diameter of leccy cord. Do not cut lid. When you have filled FV up to desired level, put heater in and bend cord over the notch so it stays in place.

I have just had to change my 2 heaters. I ran them fully submerged for 2 years. The top black plastic head would fill up with yeasty sludge and would just rinse this out after bottling, fine. But then about 2 months back, i got my first infection ( whitish/opaque film on surface, that would cling to hydrometer and then quickly start to smell of vinegar as it oxidizes.

So i dissected one of heaters ( they are basically large test tube with rubber bung in top ), when i pulled off bung i cold smell vinegar and see brown liquid stains all over electrics. What caused bung to fail i really do not know, but i am assuming i must have cleaned/ sterilized with hot water and the bung shrank. But i have no memory of doing this and always clean heaters with cold water?

Old heaters had temp adjusting dial on side. New ones have knob type on the top with rubber sealing flange around it. I still do not trust it and once i found correct temp setting i will probably seal it up using fish/food grade silicone.

Around 20-21c will be fine for fermentation. Between 18 - 24 is ok. Less than 18 and yeasty beastys go to sleep. Above 24 and yeastys can produce harsh/solvent like alchohol flavours. So if you wanted to achieve 21c in FV you may have set heaters to say 23c depending on ambient temps in room where FV is located. You will need to test/experiment on this one.

An FG of 1012 would be fine for Wherry, less would be better, but 1014 would be good enough. It wont taste any different whether its 1014 or 1008, not to my taste buds anyways.

Stir once a day and after 10 to 18 days when hydrometer reading stays the same your done. I have seen Wherrys go from 1040/42 down to 1010 in just 3 days like Coopers Stout. I found adding yeast vit nutrient made no difference.

Wherry takes longer to clear than most beers, around 4 to 6 weeks, tastes best at 6 weeks. Along with Coopers Stout, it will be one of my main winter beers. Absolutely Gorgeous

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Beery, you're a fountain, may the frost never touch your spuds, thanks!

[beery]

Thankyou At.Ailbhe's Brewery,

You just made me laugh

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Well, whatever about the yeast in your FV going for a snooze, the frost burning your spuds is an awful dose!

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Thanks lads, this appears to be working, down to 15 last night. I'm going to hold off on the heater 'til my next brew.

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Down to 11 now, it had been 12 two days ago so it all looks to have worked perfectly, thanks lads!

[scottmoss]

Get it kegged/bottled then enjoy.

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Get it kegged/bottled then enjoy.

Will do, half teaspoon of Demerara and the job's a good 'un.

Thanks for all the help (he says, not 100% sure that he doesn't need any more before the day is out)

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Got it in the bottle last night, couldn't credit how easy it was to do. If ever I meet the person who invented the bottling stick they're getting a kiss, and more if they want it, regardless of gender, persuasion, etc., off me.

Filled one clear bottle aswell, which I'm keeping in the dark, to see what's happening.

Used 1/2 teaspoon of light muscavado. It's all shaping us very well, it has to be said.

Thanks for all the help lads.









Now I play the waiting game.

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Yep...









































..... the old "waiting game"...

[scottmoss]

Have you had a sneaky taste test yet??

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Have you had a sneaky taste test yet??

Certainly have! Every time I measured it. Tastes like flat ale. Bit of a watery start to it but a nice, strong finish. It definitely tastes like beer anyway, which I'm treating as a good thing.

P.S. If my bottles are gonna blow, when can I expext it?

[At. Ailbhe's Brewery]

Gave in to temptation last night and popped a bottle after only 4 days. There was a little hiss when the cap came off, and it poured fairly sudsy. When this calmed down, later on down the glass, the head became much more defined and "beery". Smelled good, attractive. Looked fairly clear. Tasted nice, if a little watery. Lovely after taste.

I wanted another one....

The brother was assisting me and he gulped it down. No wretching, no "That's p**s!", no unpleasentness, we were both very impressed.

I'l be glugging this stuff on Christmas Day, no question!

[scottmoss]

Good work. I really enjoyed my Wherry and it's now all gone!!