Wherry Questions

[racingclub]

Hi,

after getting the brew bug off a brother-in-law over Xmas I've been buying bits and pieces left right & centre.

I'm currently fermenting a Coopers Australian Lager which seems to be coming along nicely, but obviously one brew is not enough, so I've bought more bins, kegs etc & the infamous Wherry.

Now after seeing all the Wherry threads, I'm a bit concerned. Whats the best plan of attack with this one?

Get some decent yeast, re-hydrate at a decent temperature & hope for the best? (Or sideline the Wherry and concentrate on the Brupaks I've got on order )

Cheers,

Mark.

[MightyMouth]

I have one on the go now (sort of - its stuck and I am hoping the Yeast-vit I just added along with the Dry Beer Enzyme will get it goin again).

If I was ever to do another I would add some Yeast vit from the start and also change the yeast from the one that comes with to something better like safale05. I would also follow DaaB's kit brewing instructions. Obviously the Wherry doesn't have hops included but I think all the rest still applies.

[StevieR]

I know a lot of people have had problems with the Wherry but I loved it... fruity notes and a great session ale.

I brewed mine using Gervin English Ale yeast instead of the kit yeast and had no problems at all. It took about 4 weeks to fully clear in the barrel but it was well worth the wait.

Definately a one I'd do again.

[racingclub]

cheers for the advice - I've got some Safale 05 on order, as well as some Tronozymol yeast nutrient - anyone used this before?

[MightyMouth]

My Wherry certainly smells the business but it doesn't taste great as yet. I have hope for it yet

[Zonked]

Now after seeing all the Wherry threads, I'm a bit concerned. Whats the best plan of attack with this one?

Get some decent yeast, re-hydrate at a decent temperature & hope for the best? (Or sideline the Wherry and concentrate on the Brupaks I've got on order )

Cheers,

Mark.

I've just kegged a Wherry that got to 1020 & didn't ferment any further despite adding extra yeast - there was lots of fermentation though & it tasted ok as I kegged it.

As you already have the Wherry kit I'd give it a go, your kit may ferment out fine. If not then there is some great advice on this forum.

I recommend the Brupaks kits as the Linthwaite Light I had a few months ago was was most excellent.

Good luck!

[chopperswookie]

not had a problem with the wherry yet, done it about four times.

i always give it a ruddy good stir, about five mins, bit of elbow grease never did anyone any harm. only because a few have said it could be the fermentables that muntons have a problem with.

as for the yeast, i always re-hydrate in about 100ml of pre-boiled water that has cool down (i don't know the temps, always wing it) with a pinch of brewing sugar in it. cover and watch it expand. if it doesn't use some other yeast if it does pitch it and keep the brew at a decent temperature.

i did once leave a wherry in primary for ten days and that seemed to do it no harm. yeast is yeast it'll work itself out. as for barrelling, leave it for at least six weeks. alot of people will agree, the wherry comes into its own after that period.

[Sheepy]

Did a Wherry a while ago, early december i think. Having read about the high fg i just added some extra fermentables and it went fine anyway. Dropped to 1016 which i was very happy with.
More detail here viewtopic.php?p=114883&highlight=#114883
Anyway its cleared nicely and is tasting great.

[racingclub]

I recommend the Brupaks kits as the Linthwaite Light I had a few months ago was was most excellent.

its the Linthwaite that I've also got on order - so its either that or the Wherry as my next brew

[Madbrewer]

I haven't done kits for perhaps 13 years now but does anyone know ... has the yeast quality supplied generally gone down hill? I seem to read about a lot of stuck fermentations but never remember a stuck fermentation myself.

[gareth90]

I started a wherry kit off last night and used the yeast supplied but made a starter with some cooled pre boiled water and a 1/2 tsp of sugar and it smells great already and the airlock is bubbling like a mad thing.

[MightyMouth]

I don't think the Muntons/Woodfords Sticking issue has anything to do with Yeast. I think it is a case of not enough fermentables in the wort. The reason I say this is as DaaB has pointed out previously that the Muntons 1.5kg kits don't suffer this problem and this is probably due to the fact that you add Sugar or DME to the kit which give the brew enough fermentables. Also as I have had a stuck fermentation when using more yeast which didn't come from the kit and which has now restarted fermenting after adding Dry Beer enzyme to convert the unfermentable sugars to fermentables ones it shows the yeast is still capable of doing the job as long as there is something there for it to sink its teeth into.

[StrangeBrew]

Whats the best plan of attack with this one

Instead of waiting for a stuck fermentation to happen before taking action try adding a sachet of brupaks dry beer enzyme when you pitch the yeast. Prevention is better than cure!

[MightyMouth]

Whats the best plan of attack with this one

Instead of waiting for a stuck fermentation to happen before taking action try adding a sachet of brupaks dry beer enzyme when you pitch the yeast. Prevention is better than cure!

That would work but then you have the problem of changing the characteristics of the beer. Better to try to make the beer work as is as many people have no problem at all, then if it sticks you can resort to other things.

[scarer]

If I do any Muntons or Woodfordes again, I will add yeast-vit to the yeast starter to be on the safe side. In fact I added it to my current Colne Valley by Brewpaks.....not that i'm paranoid