Timings for Woodforde's Wherry

[periolus]

Hello!

I wondered if you could pass your experienced eyes and minds over this for me, as this has come up in one form or another in posts before and I am confused.

My Wherry instructions say to put the initial brew into a fermenting bin for 4-6 days in a warm place, and then barrel or bottle for 2 days in a warm place, followed by 14 or so (is it 14-16?) in a cool place until ready. Now then - I have the beer in my dining room (constant 21 - 22 degrees) since making it yesterday, but OTHER information on the net says that I should leave it for 10 days and then up to 3 months of conditioning!

What are your experiences? I don't currently have a hydrometer - maybe I should get one!!

I really want this batch to go well, but would also like a nicely matured product, so all advice gratefully received!

 

[Dunfie]

First off get a hydrometer. You really need to be able to tell when the beer has finished.

Patience is a brewers best friend so let the primary fermentation finish before moving onto the next stage. If is possible that your fermentation will be complete in 4-6 days but its probably more accurate that it will be nearer 8-10 days.

 

[Sean_Mc]

Agree, the first thing you need to do is get a Hydrometer.

Wherry is a bugger for sticking at 1020, so on my last few I aerated well and added nutrient, but its not always needed.

Another thing with wherry is it can take its time to become clear, so best giving it 10 days in the FV.
Bottle or barrel I liked to give it 10 days to secondary ferment and realistically a good couple of months to condition in my cool workshop at below 14c

 

[periolus]

Good morning!

Thank you for the helpful replies! Just one question - how do you go about secondary fermentation? Do I need to syphon it into a new vessel, leaving the 'trub' (I'm learning!) at the bottom of the first container?

I am planning on conditioning in the barrel when the time comes. Incidentally - and I am not going to do this because of the prohibitive costs - apparently, if you condition Wherry in the barrel with chestnut honey instead of sugar, the results are positively orgasmic. I'll leave it with you!

 

[Dunfie]

If you leave for long enough in primary then there is no reason why you cannot just rack off to your barrel and condition in there. There is no need to drop into a second fermentation vessel prior to moving to the barrel.

Interesting thought on the use of honey to condition. We use so little to get condition that I would be surprised if it made an enormous difference. You will need to give us a report on the final results.

Hope it all goes well.

 

[john_s]

I left my Wherry to condition for a month and it didn't taste that great. After leaving it alone or a further two months, it was much improved.

 

[periolus]

I have ordered my hydrometer! Will leave 10 days in the first instance. I might have to have relatively short conditioning phase, as we have already organised a home-brew tasting event on the August Bank Holiday Monday!! Possibly foolish. Maybe I can open a load of Tesco Value Bitter and pour into the barrel, passing it off as my own whilst the Wherry conditions in secret under our house!

No-one would ever know....... ; )

 

[periolus]

Well, Day 4 of primary fermentation and I have a SG reading of 1012. I will wait another day or two to see if this is static. Should I wait another few days after that and let it clear, or will that be bad for it. It is starting to clear now. I know a lot of you recommend waiting up to 10 days. Wotfink?

Exciting stuff!

 

[Sean_Mc]

Sounds good Periolus, I'd give it 10 days to let the **** drop to the bottom :

 

[Cabesy]

periolus -

Looks like we're brewing the same kit at the same time - I'd be interested to know how yours turns out?

Just moved mine into pressure barrel with some sugar to kick off secondary ferment.

Unfortunately the hygrometer I bought off interweb was broken when I first took it out so couldn't take an SG measurement.

Honey sounds interesting!

 

[bullseye]

I will be keeping an eye on this thread as i plan to do a Wherry as my first beer brew very soon.

 

[periolus]

Indeed sounds good! My SG reading today was 1012 again (2 consecutive days) and I am on Day 6 of the brew. I pnly bought a hydrometer a couple of days ago, so have no original SG reading to give my ABV - but never mind.

I am going to wait until Tuesday (9 days) before kegging with some sugar to condition it, and I intend to leave it for about 6 weeks in the cellar under the house before trying it (maybe 8 weeks depending on when a holiday we will book around that time actually happens!)

IN THE MEANTIME - Turbo Cider starts tomorrow!

Yes - let's all compare notes on this, Wherry is supposed to be a great kit - one of my favourite draught beers of all time. Good luck and speak to you soon!

 

[Alec]

Wherry is one of my fav brews, the only issue for me is that it takes a long time to clear

 

[bomberns127]

woodrordes wherry is a great beer, but it needs a long long time to clear, i bottled mine when the weather was bloody hot ( end of june), not the best time to bottle beer, its been in the bottle over a month now and looks like it needs another month maybe two, i should have racked it off into another fermenter to clear, but as with most blokes i couldnt wait to bottle it, patience is always the key, it tastes ok as is but will be great when clear,good luck as its your first beer, you started with a good 'un

 

[periolus]

Well, I got it into the barrel last night! My first syphoning experience was alright, except my son (1yr old) woke up in the middle of it and I ended up having to restart the syphoning three times, and in the end left some at the bottom and just sealed the barrel, as there were two small flies showing an interest! This does mean I might have wasted about three pints. I will say 10 'Hail Woodfordes' and never do it again

The beer looked very clear already actually - there was some stuff floating on top of it, but the liquid coming through the tube was clear as day. After 2 days of warmth and love, it will go under the house in the cool to condition for at least 1 month - maybe longer.

I will let you know how it turns out! Thanks to everybody for their responses and advice throughout!

 

[periolus]

Just realised that I never gave final report on this.

Verdict: 8/10 - problem was that it came out flat with no pressure in the barrel for some reason. Also - slight TCP taste, which can apparently be caused by chloramine in the water.

Overall though - it was pleasant to drink and I am sure I can do better next time! I actually have another FV of it on now and will condition with spraymalt this time and I will report back with news!

 

[darrenwest1]

ive done about 6 of these and i allways leave them about 4-6 months and they taste great
as for the beer being flat i assume you did not add co2 via the lid

 

[Moley]

Because of this thread I tried a Wherry, about 6-8 months after I crossed to the dark side.

At 3 months I came very close to throwing it down the sink. At 6 months it was acceptable.

 

[Vossy1]

At 3 months I came very close to throwing it down the sink. At 6 months it was acceptable.

******** :cry: :cry: :cry: in the nicest possible way :lol:
I've got 2 Wherry ready to go, the thinking was that it'd be quicker than AG, and I'm finding it hard to put a day together for an AG
Oh well, I'll just have to try it and see what happens :grin:

 

[darrenwest1]

this is a nice beer but not a quick one