National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => All Grain Brewing => Topic started by: nigel_c on December 29, 2012, 07:57:22 PM

Title: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on December 29, 2012, 07:57:22 PM
I'm planning on brewing my anual barley wine in the next week or 2. Last years batch finished up at 1.020 and with priming did not carb much at all. Even a year later very little. What I'm thinking is champagne yeast before bottling. My question is what sort of drop in final gravity will the champagne yeast give due to its higher tolerance to alchhol. I used us05 last year and I reckon the 10% was just to much for it.

If I go with champagne prime or not prime the bottles? Will what the yeast eats up be enough or even to much for priming.

Any one have any luck with this before?
Could always keg and bottle but would like to get the yeast issue right. For next year   

Nigel
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on December 29, 2012, 09:27:08 PM
Was thinking the high abv maxed out the us05 and still left a few points that could still be fermented with a more tolerant yeast. Bit more goggleing I think for me.
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on December 29, 2012, 09:54:18 PM
Right. Not going to be brewing for a few weeks so loads of time. Cheers
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on December 30, 2012, 01:52:47 PM
I think ill probably go down the keg and bottle rout. Brew and keg for about 6 months before force carbing and bottling with fancy new beer gun :)
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: Ciderhead on December 30, 2012, 02:02:07 PM
QuoteI think ill probably go down the keg and bottle rout. Brew and keg for about 6 months before force carbing and bottling with fancy new beer gun :)

Gotta be the easiest and least amount of guessing, I'm all about taking the guessing out of brewing especially if I am nurturing something for over 6 months :)
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on December 30, 2012, 07:18:25 PM
Ive a keg of cider that's there about 8 months now that will be getting tapped soon so one in one out.
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: Ciderhead on December 30, 2012, 08:50:56 PM
QuoteIve a keg of cider that's there about 8 months now that will be getting tapped soon so one in one out.

I know Will puts them is stainless for the winter to age, I'd be interested in doing that was it under pressurised co2 or just in the headspace?
did you keep it in the fridge for 8 months?
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on December 30, 2012, 11:22:05 PM
The batch of cider i primed the keg and pressurized. With the beer id be thinking of pressurizing the unprimed keg and leaving before force carbing after about 6 months or so. ah decision decisions.
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: Ciderhead on December 30, 2012, 11:43:41 PM
thanks definitely gonna give that a go
Title: Re: Carbing big beers
Post by: nigel_c on January 03, 2013, 04:54:47 PM
Not sure what I'm entering yet. Will have to crack open a few "Samples" over the next week or so.