Using brett

[Oneflewover]

Right, I've got a Belgian quad that has stopped at 1.025 (from OG of 1.095). Apparent attenuation of 72%. I've packaged 1 gallon, but have 3 more in secondary. There's a good beer in there, but it's just too sweet for my taste and it's not where I want to be with it.

I'm thinking now that I should experiment with some Brett on maybe 2gall of it, and looking at wyeast 5526. Before I go and spend 12 quid on it has anyone got any better ideas?

Really struggling with this beer, so would appreciate any and all input. Cheers.

 

[Oneflewover]

No-one?

 

[strange-steve]

How long has it been at 1.025 and what yeast did you use? Did you add any simple sugars? Mash temperature?

That does seem like a very low AA for a Belgian strain. I reckon brett might work well, as long as you're not in too much of a hurry. Another option might be to add a sacch diastaticus strain to finish it off, something like Belle Saison or Wy3711.

 

[Oneflewover]

Cheers @strange-steve , knew I could rely on you!

I used WLP 530. It's been at 1.025 for a couple of weeks at least, it ain't going anywhere... Mash temp 64 Deg C and over 10% simple sugar. Should have been very fermentable..

 

[Sadfield]

As the bulk of the fermentation has been done, a more pleasant alternative may be to buy £12 worth of Orval, drink and pitch or culture up the yeast dregs to get the Brett.

 

[Oneflewover]

As the bulk of the fermentation has been done, a more pleasant alternative may be to buy £12 worth of Orval, drink and pitch or culture up the yeast dregs to get the Brett.

I like your style!

 

[strange-steve]

Actually I change my answer, do as Sadfield says

 

[YeastFace]

As the bulk of the fermentation has been done, a more pleasant alternative may be to buy £12 worth of Orval, drink and pitch or culture up the yeast dregs to get the Brett.

This was going to be my suggestion.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Absolutely agree re: the Orval. I've read numerous times that the Brett and bugs you get from commercial beers are much healthier and more viable than the stuff we buy from the yeast manufacturers.

 

[SteveH]

Absolutely agree re: the Orval. I've read numerous times that the Brett and bugs you get from commercial beers are much healthier and more viable than the stuff we buy from the yeast manufacturers.

I wonder why that would be, given that it's the exact opposite when trying to culture up normal Sacch strains from bottles vs using a much larger cell density from a commercial yeast vial?

 

[Brew_DD2]

I wonder why that would be, given that it's the exact opposite when trying to culture up normal Sacch strains from bottles vs using a much larger cell density from a commercial yeast vial?

Apparently they have already done the leg work in getting the bugs used to thriving in beer.

Milk the Funk says, "Using commercial sour beers to ferment is generally a good idea because the microbes are often stronger and more aggressive from commercial breweries as compared to mixed cultures from yeast companies."

It's a generalisation, so worth experimenting.

 

[Sadfield]

I don't know why, but Brettanomyces have been observed to stay viable longer when Saccharomyces are present, also.

Unless it's a 100% Brett fermentation, pitch rate/cell count isn't important due to the timeframe that Brett needs to ferment all the complex sugars left behind by saccharomyces.

 

[Oneflewover]

Thanks fellas, really appreciate your help. Beerhawk appear to have some Orval at £2.80 a bottle, is that about right?

I've got some WY3711 in the fridge so I might even experiment and do one gallon with Orval dregs, one with WY 3711 and third one.....

 

[Sadfield]

Very reasonably priced Orval.

 

[BeerCat]

What other beers do Beerhawk sell with good bugs in?
We should perhaps start swapping some to build up a collection.

 

[Oneflewover]

What other beers do Beerhawk sell with good bugs in?
We should perhaps start swapping some to build up a collection.

I have absolutely no idea, but your suggestion sounds like a plan

 

[Oneflewover]

Very reasonably priced Orval.

Ordered 3 bottles. Postage is a bit of a PITA

 

[BeerCat]

Ordered 3 bottles. Postage is a bit of a PITA

How much?

Edit. A list of beers with bugs in would be handy.

 

[Oneflewover]

How much?

Edit. A list of beers with bugs in would be handy.

A fiver. Need to spend over 50 notes to get free delivery.

 

[Oneflewover]

My bottles of Orval arrived today, very happy with delivery!

Does anyone know whether the dregs of one bottle will be enough to innoculate a gallon of my wort / beer (whichever it is!)?