Strong Beer Primary Time?

[earthwormgaz]

Hi lads,

My Yuletide ale was 1.048 at 26 degrees, which I'm hoping is going to be pretty strong.

It'll have been in there 2 weeks this weekend, so if I dry hop it tonight a bit then rack it off this weekend, am I going to be about right?

 

[Mark1964]

best to check using a hydrometer also see if fermentation has stopped if it ferments down to 1.010 it will be
5% ish

 

[earthwormgaz]

Bugger, I was hoping for a lot stronger to be honest. I must have gotten a bit less out of the grain than I'd hoped.

The airlock has quietened right down ...

 

[Mark1964]

5% isnt bad we made a belgian lager that was close to 8% but you cant drink alot of it

 

[earthwormgaz]

Yeah, I had it in my head it would be a strong Yule ale because that's what the recipe said it'd be. Let me see ...

8lbs 6oz crushed pale malt
9 1/2oz crystal malt
8oz amber malt
2oz roasted barley
4oz flaked barley

Has that underperformed then? Seeing as it's a lower percent, I suppose it will be fine to rack off after 2 weeks, answering my own question from the opening post somewhat :lol:

 

[shocker]

Really depends on the expected final gravity . I wouldnt think you are going to be drinking it for christmas now....well maybe....that depends on you !

 

[earthwormgaz]

It does actually say it should come out at 5.2, I dunno what gave me the idea I had something stronger on my hands. Anway, time to sling in the hops.

I was rather hoping it'd be drinkable for Crimbo though

 

[graysalchemy]

If you are bottling I would say it wouldn't be ready for christmas but probably ready for my birthday in feb :lol:

As a rule of thumb beer takes 1 week for every 10 points of gravity to condition so probably 4-5 weeks. If you get it bottled this weekend you may get some condition by christmas but not at its peak. What ever you do save a few bottles for next christmas and you will have nice suprise. I have got one bottle of a bitter I brewed a year ago to have on christmas eve along with my barley wine.

 

[earthwormgaz]

Does this apply if I put it in a plastic barrel rather than bottle?

I could bottle up say 10 pints and drink the rest out of the barrel? If I keep doing this, I should build up a nice stash of conditioning ales of different sorts as I get more into brewing.

This always makes me laugh about those Budweiser (sorry, that should be Catpissweiser) adverts that bang on about the beer being fresh like it's a bloody vegetable or something :lol:

 

[earthwormgaz]

I grated a teaspoon of raw ginger into a little boiling water at the weekend, and lobbed that in. So that, the mix spice and the honey will hopefully give it a real festive kick!

Can't wait to try this stuff! It's my second AG brew, and promises a better ABV, my stout is disappointingly wazzy, and is probably not much above 3%.

I've also got to hope that bloody sprout I added to the end of the boil hasn't done any harm :lol:

 

[shearclass]

I've also got to hope that bloody sprout I added to the end of the boil hasn't done any harm :lol:

What on earth made you do this?!?

 

[earthwormgaz]

I saw it on the side ...
It's a Christmas beer I'm making ...
Sprouts are Christmas fayre ...
In it goes ...

I later got the low down on here from Graysalchemy about DMEs or whatever they are, so I've learned something!

Thank gods I only threw one in!

 

[matth]

Sprouts! :rofl:

 

[graysalchemy]

Perhaps you need to join this forum The golden sprout

 

[earthwormgaz]

Sprouts! :rofl:

I know, I know