11 replies to this topic

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

I already did this but am asking for help or future suggestions:I got a pack of brett c in the mail and it was completely swollen. I needed to think quick. I put 3L of hefe that was in secondary into a 6L flask and piched the brett into it. I just needed to give it a home for a while. Anyone see a problem with this? I could always pitch it to something else later.Assuming the brett was still alive, what will it look like as it grows?

[EWW]

I already did this but am asking for help or future suggestions:I got a pack of brett c in the mail and it was completely swollen. I needed to think quick. I put 3L of hefe that was in secondary into a 6L flask and piched the brett into it. I just needed to give it a home for a while. Anyone see a problem with this? I could always pitch it to something else later.Assuming the brett was still alive, what will it look like as it grows?

that shouldn't hurt the Brett one bit. However I would have just stuck it in the fridge till I needed it. Brett will survive a little more maltreatment then ale/lager stains. You should have a nice slurry for secondary when you need it now, but since you pitched it into another beer you will not be able to use it for a 100% Brett ferment. I've never watched Brett grow in secondary, but in primary starter wort it will get cloudy like a more traditional yeast starter. Since you are putting it in a finished beer yeast activity will be slow since there aren't too many fermentable sugars left. Your best indicator as to the health of the brett is to keep an eye on the gravity reading, but don't freak out if you don't see much activity for a while ... brett in secondary can take a while. However, on the plus side brett is hard to kill so you should be good to go.

Edited by ewanzel, 13 July 2009 - 06:50 AM.

[strangebrewer]

Agree 100% with ewanzel. Brett is amazingly resilient and will take quite a beating.In the past I have taken the final couple drips from a smack pack and added them to a pint mason jar with 1 cup of apple juice with 1/8tsp yeast hulls dissolved in it. It takes a day or two before I get any activity but once it starts to go it'll ferment out and leave a light layer of yeast on the bottom. If I leave it sit it'll develop a pellicle. From there I'll step it up or mess around with what happens when you WAY underpitch it into secondary.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

Thanks guys for the info. I thought about doing the entire batch of hefe in secondary with the brett. Pineapple is used a lot in describing brett c. Thought it could be interesting. Any particular style you like brett c for? All brett or just secondary?

[Brewmasters Warehouse]

I just wanted to let you know that the a swollen pack of Brett is very normal. I get my Brett directly from Wyeast and over half of every Brett I have ever gotten has swollen. I have asked Wyeast about it, and they have told me that the Brett is just very aggresive, and eat anything residual in the packaging after it has been sealed, and thus it swells. I have received packs from Wyeast that have been swolen when they arrive, and I have had them swell even while in the fridge waiting to be sold. Most improtantly I have never had a customer have a problem getting the Brett to ferment out.Ed

[MtnBrewer]

I just wanted to let you know that the a swollen pack of Brett is very normal. I get my Brett directly from Wyeast and over half of every Brett I have ever gotten has swollen. I have asked Wyeast about it, and they have told me that the Brett is just very aggresive, and eat anything residual in the packaging after it has been sealed, and thus it swells. I have received packs from Wyeast that have been swolen when they arrive, and I have had them swell even while in the fridge waiting to be sold. Most improtantly I have never had a customer have a problem getting the Brett to ferment out.Ed

That's been my experience with Roeselare (which contains Brett) as well. I just got two packs and both were so puffy already that I couldn't even find the nutrient pack in order to break it.

[strangebrewer]

Thanks guys for the info. I thought about doing the entire batch of hefe in secondary with the brett. Pineapple is used a lot in describing brett c. Thought it could be interesting. Any particular style you like brett c for? All brett or just secondary?

I haven't used Brett C much so I can only offer my ideas. I usually use Brett B and Brett L. I have thought about using Brett C as the primary strain in an IPA-ish beer. My thought was to try and pull as much pineapple as I could out of the Brett and then a good dose of the 'C' hops. Since Brett C is much more subtle compared to the other 2 you shouldn't get as much of the funk character which can clash with a highly hopped beer IMO.

[Brewmasters Warehouse]

That's been my experience with Roeselare (which contains Brett) as well. I just got two packs and both were so puffy already that I couldn't even find the nutrient pack in order to break it.

There are several Wyeast strains that are pretty aggressive that the swelling prior to smacking is somewhat normal. I have it happen with Pacman all of the time. I do not seem to be able to actually break the smack pack inside most of the time, swelled or not.Ed

[zymot]

NO! Do not do that, the brett will spoil and then you run the risk of your beer will get infec . . . . .Uh, wait minute. Awww forget it.

[tag]

The only downside I see is that it is now mixed with the Hefeweizen yeast.

[strangebrewer]

NO! Do not do that, the brett will spoil and then you run the risk of your beer will get infec . . . . .Uh, wait minute. Awww forget it.

You forgot the: Now that you're brewery is contaminated please mail me everything for proper disposal

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

The only downside I see is that it is now mixed with the Hefeweizen yeast.

Its mixed with sierra nevada kellerweiss yeast. That yeast is crazy!