13 replies to this topic

[BrewerGeorge]

It hasn't been a big summer for me, brewing-wise. The last batch I made was in May, and I've still got kegs on tap that were brewed in February. With the two hand surgeries and various craziness at work, I haven't been in the mood for much brewing.I'm going to break the streak tomorrow with a 10 gallon batch of IPA. I'm using CJ's basic gristbill and all Amarillo hops. I'll be fermenting in two BB's so I thought I'd try an experiment. One will be fermented with S-04 and the other with US-05. Once they're done I'll mix them together in my 10 gal keg for serving. I'm interested to see how the individual ones taste along with the mix. I may even bottle a few of each with carb tabs before mixing them in the, just to get a full appreciation of the differences after a good aging.

[ncbeerbrewer]

That sounds like a great idea. I think it might turn out to be interesting. I was just telling someone about this idea yesterday as well. I thought splitting a batch I never thought about reblending it after it fermented. There was someone on another board that did that with Belgian strains and it turned out good as well. Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out. Hope you get enjoy the brew session, it sounds like its been a year for you. You picked a fine recipe too. Cheers.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

It hasn't been a big summer for me, brewing-wise. The last batch I made was in May, and I've still got kegs on tap that were brewed in February. With the two hand surgeries and various craziness at work, I haven't been in the mood for much brewing.I'm going to break the streak tomorrow with a 10 gallon batch of IPA. I'm using CJ's basic gristbill and all Amarillo hops. I'll be fermenting in two BB's so I thought I'd try an experiment. One will be fermented with S-04 and the other with US-05. Once they're done I'll mix them together in my 10 gal keg for serving. I'm interested to see how the individual ones taste along with the mix. I may even bottle a few of each with carb tabs before mixing them in the, just to get a full appreciation of the differences after a good aging.

I think it will make a nice balance. Not too dry, not too sweet but still a little fruity. US-05 on it's own doesn't seem to have much character so this will be nice.

[BrewerGeorge]

I think it will make a nice balance. Not too dry, not too sweet but still a little fruity. US-05 on it's own doesn't seem to have much character so this will be nice.

That's what I was thinking.

[BrewerGeorge]

Biggest mash EVAR!27.5 lbs in an IceCube. Foam was leaking out the top when I closed it and I had to remove the upper sparge manifold to recover its displacement. I was planning on using the HERMS but there's just not enough room.hehe

[gnef]

If you have three 5 gallon kegs available, what you could do is blend half of each, and leave half of each, that way you have a greater variety of tastes - you may want more than just a few bottles of each individually.

[BrewerGeorge]

Interesting results after 10 days, started at 1.067:The S05 portion was very cloudy with yeast, quite attenuated at 88% down to 1.007. Great hop flavor and aroma, strong amarillo character.The S04 portion was crystal clear, but "only" attenuated 80% to 1.012. More muted hop character, no real noticeable English character (probably overwhelmed by the 88 IBU's). General impression is too sweet.Generally, I prefer the 05 version, although I'd mash a couple degrees higher next time.Because the volumes aren't equal, the mix should be right at 1.009 and should be just about perfect.

[Thirsty]

The S05 portion was very cloudy with yeast, quite attenuated at 88% down to 1.007. .

Curious as what temp you are fermenting at. I ferment 05 at 64 degrees and never usually get over 80%, my buddy had (set him up now) no temp control and his half of our batches would ferment ambient 70-72. He would get 85-88%, but would also get diacytel along with it, our beers tasted night and day.

[3rd party JKor]

Dang, 1.007? What was the grainbill?Dang (again), 1.012 was too sweet?

[BrewerGeorge]

Curious as what temp you are fermenting at. I ferment 05 at 64 degrees and never usually get over 80%, my buddy had (set him up now) no temp control and his half of our batches would ferment ambient 70-72. He would get 85-88%, but would also get diacytel along with it, our beers tasted night and day.

This one was 68F. I normally do S05 at 65F, but I've found that is too low for S04 (they were fermented side-by-side) or it will throw diacetyl. I'm surprised your buddy got diacetyl at 70-72F. Diacetyl is usually the product of incomplete fermentation and lower temps. Hotter should have less diacetyl and more fusel.

Dang, 1.007? What was the grainbill?Dang (again), 1.012 was too sweet?

The bill was essentially the bill for CJ's Rising Sun JPA with a couple small subs for availability. Mash was a bit cooler than I'd planned because I simply couldn't get enough water in the cooler. I wanted 152F and got 150F. If I were doing it again (w/ 05 at least), I's shoot for 154F.Twelve may have tasted sweeter in comparison to the 05. I tasted the 05 first.

[Thirsty]

I'm surprised your buddy got diacetyl at 70-72F.

He has gotten a buttery slickness to it in our IPAs DIPAs and a barleywine, all the same flavor. Maybe it is a fusel and not diacytel, but it is definitely off.

[Deerslyr]

I wanted 152F and got 150F. If I were doing it again (w/ 05 at least), I's shoot for 154F.

Just as an fyi, I've used the 05 frequently and tend to get the same/similar attenuation result on a mash at 148 as I do for 155. I'm beginning to think that with the 05 I should probably be overcompensating with cyrstal instead of focusing on the mash temp. What do you think?

[BrewerGeorge]

Just as an fyi, I've used the 05 frequently and tend to get the same/similar attenuation result on a mash at 148 as I do for 155. I'm beginning to think that with the 05 I should probably be overcompensating with cyrstal instead of focusing on the mash temp. What do you think?

I can see that. I rarely brew the same thing often enough to get a feel for that kind of thing.

[3rd party JKor]

The bill was essentially the bill for CJ's Rising Sun JPA with a couple small subs for availability. Mash was a bit cooler than I'd planned because I simply couldn't get enough water in the cooler. I wanted 152F and got 150F. If I were doing it again (w/ 05 at least), I's shoot for 154F.Twelve may have tasted sweeter in comparison to the 05. I tasted the 05 first.

Perception of sweetness is a funny thing. I just kegged an IPA that I accidentally mashed 3-4 degrees high and it finished at 1.020, but it doesn't seem very sweet at all.

Edited by JKoravos, 31 July 2009 - 05:37 AM.