luckyeddie
Landlord.
A couple of weeks ago, for just my third AG, I got a bit above my station and turned my hand to making a Belgian Golden Strong Ale (instead of my usual practice of just drinking one or two). The WLP550 had been chuckling away in a carboy for about 10 days, and by carefully doubling up with 1040 wort every couple of days, I had about 3 litres of starter.
At the same time, I washed out the dregs of two bottles of Duvel and grew that on.
I cracked out 20 litres of 1075 OG and split it into 2 FVs. Into one half I pitched half of the WLP550 starter, and into the other one I pitched the Duvel starter. Fermentation was pretty rapid with both brews, but the FVs were in the lounge and it gets pretty cold at night. I kept swapping my (only) brewbelt over daily, but after 3 or 4 days I was fearing the worst because both fermentations had slowed to a crawl and so I ordered some Belgian dried yeast.
I decided to leave the brews alone, and actually gave them a full fortnight before cracking the seals tonight and taking SG readings. I was expecting stuck fermentations around 1030, and was resigned to either dumping or (if not spoiled) pitching the Safbrew Belgian yeast.
Imagine my surprise when the WLP550 turned out spot on at the predicted 1014 - and blow me down, the Duvel one (which I reckon was SERIOUSLY underpitched) was a creditable 1015 and is still fermenting slowly. As for the taste - well, I can honestly say that both (100 ccs of each headed down the gullet) are quite possibly the best two beers I have EVER churned out in 30 years of kits - and both Mrs LE and I actually prefer the Duvel yeast one.
A miracle worthy of the Trappist Monks themselves.
At the same time, I washed out the dregs of two bottles of Duvel and grew that on.
I cracked out 20 litres of 1075 OG and split it into 2 FVs. Into one half I pitched half of the WLP550 starter, and into the other one I pitched the Duvel starter. Fermentation was pretty rapid with both brews, but the FVs were in the lounge and it gets pretty cold at night. I kept swapping my (only) brewbelt over daily, but after 3 or 4 days I was fearing the worst because both fermentations had slowed to a crawl and so I ordered some Belgian dried yeast.
I decided to leave the brews alone, and actually gave them a full fortnight before cracking the seals tonight and taking SG readings. I was expecting stuck fermentations around 1030, and was resigned to either dumping or (if not spoiled) pitching the Safbrew Belgian yeast.
Imagine my surprise when the WLP550 turned out spot on at the predicted 1014 - and blow me down, the Duvel one (which I reckon was SERIOUSLY underpitched) was a creditable 1015 and is still fermenting slowly. As for the taste - well, I can honestly say that both (100 ccs of each headed down the gullet) are quite possibly the best two beers I have EVER churned out in 30 years of kits - and both Mrs LE and I actually prefer the Duvel yeast one.
A miracle worthy of the Trappist Monks themselves.
A lot of distinguished yeast biologists have published methods to do it . . .including those that run big yeast farms
![BREWING THERMOMETER STICKERS ACCURATELY MONITOR FERMENTING BEER & WINE LIQUID TEMPERATURES 5PCS HOME BREW SPIRITS WINE LCD ADHESIVE [US]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/311DDjo2X3L._SL500_.jpg)
