[firedog23]

I assume someone else has had this thought and gone through with it.

I brewed a Belgium Abbey Style Red 1.084 OG 1.026 FG, with a smack pack of Belgium Ardennes.  Out of curiosity, I decided to put a gallon of it in a 1 gal carboy that had one tablespoon of honey mixed with 100ml of water (both boiled) which took it back up to 1.034 and then pitched a hydrated Safale US-05.  I would have liked to use another Ardennes but I had none left so I rehydrated the US-05.

Am I up for disappointment or could this work out?  Will the yeast play nice?  Will/could the two different yeast strains make for a crazy flavor?

The original beer needs some time to condition but it tastes like I had hoped with the seeds of paradise and orange zest really coming out right now.  I know they will mellow out which is what i want but the gallon of it in secondary is my cause for excitement/curiosity.

Any thoughts are more than welcome,

Tim

[Hokerer]

Something doesn't sound right here.  One tablespoon of honey is about 3/4 of an ounce.  Honey is somewhere around 35 points per pound per gallon.  So that one tablespoon in one gallon is only going to bump the gravity up by a point and a half or so.  Yet you say your gravity bumped from 1.026 up to 1.034?  I'm confused.

[firedog23]

That's what the reading was after three separate readings with a hydrometer.

The 1.026 was the fg out of the fermenter and the 1.034 was the reading of the secondary prior to the yeast  with the honey mixture in it.

[dimik]

1026 FG is WAAAAAY TOOOO HIIIIIGH. That's higher than sweet stouts finish at! Actually it's so high that some table beers have 1026-29 OG. I think you need to let it sit longer and let finish. Add fresh active yeast maybe. Especially for a Belgian this is WAY too high.
Was this an extract brew? Even if it was, it still should finish nowhere near 1026...

[firedog23]

1026 FG is WAAAAAY TOOOO HIIIIIGH. That's higher than sweet stouts finish at! Actually it's so high that some table beers have 1026-29 OG. I think you need to let it sit longer and let finish. Add fresh active yeast maybe. Especially for a Belgian this is WAY too high.
Was this an extract brew? Even if it was, it still should finish nowhere near 1026...

No, this was AG. it was in the fermenter for two weeks with no action the last few days.  Any chance the yeast wore out being it started high? 

[euge]

I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish here. I don't think you'll get much out of the s-05 even with a re-ferment.

[denny]

No, this was AG. it was in the fermenter for two weeks with no action the last few days.  Any chance the yeast wore out being it started high?

Did you make a starter?

[tubercle]

Have you calibrated the hydrometer with water?

[firedog23]

I am not trying to do anything in particular, more of an experiment and a lot of curiosity.

No starter. I am not set up for a anything more than straight liquid yeast or hydrated dry yeast but I am getting frustrated with my limited capabilities. A stir plate is up next in the equipment purchase as I want to be better with yeast and not run into the issues I ran into this time.

[firedog23]

Have you calibrated the hydrometer with water?

No I have not.

[denny]

No starter + 1.086 OG = poor fermentation...all it takes to make a starter is a gal. jug and some DME.  No fancy flask or stir plate necessary.  I'd recommend you make a starter for anything over 1.040.

[mabrungard]

No starter + 1.086 OG = poor fermentation...all it takes to make a starter is a gal. jug and some DME.  No fancy flask or stir plate necessary.  I'd recommend you make a starter for anything over 1.040.

Yah, the yeast pooped out in that high gravity wort due to limited ability to replicate in that wort.  A larger yeast population was needed at pitching to avoid relying on excessive replication.  Don't do big beers without a starter. 

[firedog23]

Thanks guys for the info. I am going to add the starter addition to my process. 

I do have some dme and will be using it next time.

So I guess the gallon carboy could work out as it has new healthier yeast in it.

[morticaixavier]

Thanks guys for the info. I am going to add the starter addition to my process. 

I do have some dme and will be using it next time.

So I guess the gallon carboy could work out as it has new healthier yeast in it.

Yeah, it might, you might also want to rehydrate and pitch another pack of us05 to the main batch.