The fasted fermentation I've ever seen?

[Possy92]

Hi all,

Few details about the brew first:
Type: Pale ale
OG: 1.048
Batch Size: 2.2 Imperial (UK) Gallons
Yeast Used: Wilkos ale yeast (packet says for up to 5 gallons (don't shoot me!)

I finished brewing a pale ale on the 24/10/17, did my yeast starter about an hour or so before the brew finished, chucking in some wilkos yeast nutrient for good measure, pitched the yeast when the beer was in the demijohn, turned on the heating mat below and went out for the evening.

Came back and an absolute hive of activity, airlock going crazy, massive Krausen on the top, it looks nice and healthy.

Wake up in the morning and it's sort of... gone? Few bubbles on the surface and bits of yeast. Airlock has slowed right down.
Beer did feel a bit warm but not more than 20 degrees, so I turned the heat matt off. I always wrap it in a towel just to ensure no sunlight gets in and keeps it insulated.

I guess my question, is this normal? I believe most of the fermentation may be done, and just the last bits to do... but this has got to be the fastest initial fermentation ever.

I don't like fiddling with the beer until it's ready to rack/bottle as it adds risk of infection, so I'll be leaving it another week or so anyway.

I'll send a couple of pics... does it look okay?

Please and thank yous!

 

[MyQul]

Basically yes, its normal. a) You used twice as much yeast as recommended on the pack. More yeast means their's more cells to do the same amount of work (it going to take 2 blokes half as much time to dig a hole than it is one bloke). b) What was your fermentation temp? This has a big effect on how fast a fermentation takes. If you fermented warm then the fermentation is quicker. c) Notty is a beast and doesnt hang around 1.048 isnt that big an OG so notty will easily batter it's way through all those yummy wort sugars

 

[foxy]

When I used to use a heat mat I would never sit the fermenter directly on top a gap of 40 mm between the mat and the fermenter,as mentioned to much yeast, never good to over pitch. Will be interesting to hear how it tastes.

 

[terrym]

In some ways this is almost the opposite of my recent experience of using a Wilko Gervin ale yeast. Using a single packet on a 21 litre brew OG 1.044 it took over 24 hours to really get going and after nearly a week in the water bath at 19*C the airlock is still burping away every six seconds or thereabouts, and hasn't really showed any signs yet of starting to properly finish up.

 

[Possy92]

When I used to use a heat mat I would never sit the fermenter directly on top a gap of 40 mm between the mat and the fermenter,as mentioned to much yeast, never good to over pitch. Will be interesting to hear how it tastes.

Thank you all for your replies, puts me more at ease anyway!

Is it bad to overpitch? I always thought that yeast packets didn't supply the required amount of yeast for what they recommend.

I've just looked on another wilkos yeast packet, it's 11 grams... I take it that is too much for a 2.2gallon batch?

Is there a way to calculate how much yeast I need to pitch?

Thank you again for replies!

 

[chub1]

Thank you all for your replies, puts me more at ease anyway!

Is it bad to overpitch? I always thought that yeast packets didn't supply the required amount of yeast for what they recommend.

I've just looked on another wilkos yeast packet, it's 11 grams... I take it that is too much for a 2.2gallon batch?

Is there a way to calculate how much yeast I need to pitch?


Thank you again for replies!

Use 1/2 a pack, re seal the packet and stick it into the fridge for another brew:thumb:
Re hydrate the yeast before pitching.Should be no need at all for nutrient.

 

[foxy]

Thank you all for your replies, puts me more at ease anyway!



Is there a way to calculate how much yeast I need to pitch?

Thank you again for replies!

You can use Brewers friend, the calculations are done for you.

 

[Ken L]

I have the opposite issue. After loosing a brew a couple of months back, I prepared a starter and pitched it to a batch of stout. Predictably, it started well and 11 days latter, I've got all the bottles cleaned rinsed and ready to go but when I opened the FV, I find that he beer still has a foamy top and is clearly not done.
I know its been cool but 12 days for a standard strength beer is silly.
I now have the bottles in a couple of milk crates with a sheet of cling film and a rowel keeping them completely sealed and I'll have another crack at bottling on Tuesday.

 

[DoctorMick]

I have the opposite issue. After loosing a brew a couple of months back, I prepared a starter and pitched it to a batch of stout. Predictably, it started well and 11 days latter, I've got all the bottles cleaned rinsed and ready to go but when I opened the FV, I find that he beer still has a foamy top and is clearly not done.
I know its been cool but 12 days for a standard strength beer is silly.
I now have the bottles in a couple of milk crates with a sheet of cling film and a rowel keeping them completely sealed and I'll have another crack at bottling on Tuesday.

It is possible to still have a krausen even tho fermentation is done, it doesn’t happen often but it’s possible. Did you take a gravity reading when you opened it up?

 

[LarryF]

Re-pitching from the trub using the Wilko Gervin goes off like a rocket, and I always got 80+% attenuation using it. It was so good and convenient that for ages it was all I used, I'm shopping around now but I always keep a pack in the fridge as my backup.

 

[Ken L]

It is possible to still have a krausen even tho fermentation is done, it doesn’t happen often but it’s possible. Did you take a gravity reading when you opened it up?

I haven't bothered with a hydrometer for 20 years. It'll be fine to bottle on Tuesday - and if it's not, I'll do it on Saturday.

 

[Gunge]

I haven't bothered with a hydrometer for 20 years. It'll be fine to bottle on Tuesday - and if it's not, I'll do it on Saturday.

I use one to know the ABV, but not to check when it's done; I can't ever recall a fermentation not going down to where I'd expect it to. 2 or 3 weeks in the FV sees to that...