AG#60 - Belgian Honey Beer (Duvel Yeast)

[jmc]

Hi Floyd
Thanks for all the info.
I have a fermenting fridge with an STC-1000 based temp controller.

May delay brewing until Sunday as wife and daughter off (to Brighton) for the day.
Forgoing pleasures of the Evening Star ( great pub )
to have a brew day.

My only worry is the Duvel starter won't have grown enough before brew day.
Starter currently in fridge in with an 80/- at 22C (brew started at 18).

I may take FV out as gravity has been 6.5 brix for 3 days now and increase fridge temp to 25C to grow yeast starter so ready for brew. Good / bad idea?

ATB John

[floydmeddler]

I'd do it if I were you. Main thing is to get that yeast starter big enough. Are you saying that you'll be in the Evening Star on Saturday? GREAT pub!

[jmc]

Hi

Thanks for advice.

Unfortunately choice is Evening Star or Brewday.
This time I'm opting for brewday.

Wife and daughter going to Brighton Sunday, so its good time to have a brew.
When I go I always try to pop in the Evening Star. I love Dark Star beers, Hop Head & APA etc.

ATB
John

[floydmeddler]

Ah. Me too. Great brewery.

[jmc]

Hi Floyd

Duvel yeast starter in fermenting fridge and I upped temp to 25C last night.
That did the trick.
Going really well in the morning. Looking good for yeast being ready for brew this weekend!
ATB John

[floydmeddler]

Hi Floyd

Duvel yeast starter in fermenting fridge and I upped temp to 25C last night.
That did the trick.
Going really well in the morning. Looking good for yeast being ready for brew this weekend!
ATB John

Excellent! Very excited that you're giving this recipe a try. Get some photos up!!

[jmc]

Hi Floyd

Brewday on Sunday went quite well.
Details on separate tread: AG#22 - Belgian Strong Golden (Duvel Yeast)
Plenty of pics!

Thanks for the inspiration and advice.

ATB
John

[greenxpaddy]

Hi

Looks like you slightly underpitched your yeast, if it was a stirplate starter. If it was a standard starter it was very underpitched. Be interested in the flavours you get coming through

Cheers

[floydmeddler]

Hey Paddy. I under-pitched deliberately in the hope that the yeast would throw up some interesting flavours. This beer turned out fantastically well. Duvel flavours were really there.

Just bottled my second batch of this beer today: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=46377&hilit=+honey

[greenxpaddy]

V. interesting. Underpitching is always seen as a bad thing. This combined with those higher temperatures would scare most! Clearly this yeast can handle it. I note that Chimay completes their fermentation in 3 days. So I reckon they might overpitch at a high temp? Have you tried that before?

[floydmeddler]

V. interesting. Underpitching is always seen as a bad thing. This combined with those higher temperatures would scare most! Clearly this yeast can handle it. I note that Chimay completes their fermentation in 3 days. So I reckon they might overpitch at a high temp? Have you tried that before?

I haven't Paddy but would be up for trying it. I was worried about fusel alcohols with my Belgians but they don't seem to come through thankfully! I may pitch a bigger starter next time - just because it's what I should be doing really!