Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Yeast suspension on green beer  (Read 6862 times)

Offline hospter81

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Yeast suspension on green beer
« on: June 27, 2012, 08:53:11 pm »
Hello! i have been brewing serveral batches of porter. The OG is 1065 and theoretically the FG would be something around 1016. In my last batches, when i am ready to transfer from fermentor to a maturation tank i have a lot of yeast in suspension on my beer. When i am reading final gravity the beer do not have well atenuation even if i leave the it on the fermentor for several days. The FG is around 1025 to 1020. I use dry yeast (nottingham), i rehydrate it with water at 90°F. I use 3.5 to 4 packages of yeast to pitch a 1/2 BBL batch. I have checked the calcium levels on my water and adjusted it, i use to mash at 145 or 149°F maximum. I have a ranco temperature controller con my refrigerator in order to control fermentation.  I dont know why i am having this yeast problem? please somebody help me!!

Offline tschmidlin

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8198
  • Redmond, WA
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2012, 11:24:53 pm »
What is the recipe you are using?  What are your calcium levels?
Tom Schmidlin

Offline euge

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8017
  • Ego ceruisam ad bibere cervisiam
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2012, 11:36:31 pm »
Is your hydrometer calibrated? Mine started reading a few points high and I found that the paper had slipped from being knocked around.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline davidgzach

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1698
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2012, 05:31:47 am »
You say "last batches".  How many times has this happened now?
Dave Zach

Offline Mark G

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 898
  • Huntley, IL
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2012, 08:58:21 am »
Also, what is your fermentation temp profile? And how long before you transfer out of primary?
Mark Gres

Offline hospter81

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2012, 10:07:17 am »
What is the recipe you are using?  What are your calcium levels?

Hello! this is the recipe:

69% two row briess base malt
11% munich malt
2% carapils malt
5% caramel malt
3% special roast malt
7% chocolate malt
3% black patent malt

I mash base malt, munich malt and carapils 10 minutes at 131ºF, then 60 minutes at 149ºF and recirculating and sparging at 172ºF adding caramel, special roast, chocolate and black patent malts at that moment.

My calcium levels are 50 ppm

thanks!

Offline hospter81

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2012, 10:08:52 am »
Is your hydrometer calibrated? Mine started reading a few points high and I found that the paper had slipped from being knocked around.

i really dont know? do i need to use distilled water to see if its uncalibrated?

thanks!

Offline hospter81

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2012, 10:09:52 am »
You say "last batches".  How many times has this happened now?

last 3 batches throughout the month

Offline hospter81

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2012, 10:12:42 am »
Also, what is your fermentation temp profile? And how long before you transfer out of primary?

i set my ranco temperature controller to 67ºF and two days before a rack the beer i let it raise to 69-70ºF for diacetyl rest...

i leave the beer on fermentor for about 10-12 days

thanks!

Offline mmitchem

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 358
  • Suffolk, VA
    • http://www.barfclub.org
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2012, 10:22:32 am »
sounds like something isnt working right for sure...

Has this happened before or is it a new problem that has only been happening your last few batches?

Have you tried any other strains of yeasts and had the same result?
Michael P Mitchem
Beer and Ale Research Foundation (B.A.R.F.)
AHA Member since 2011

Offline euge

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8017
  • Ego ceruisam ad bibere cervisiam
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2012, 11:00:27 am »
Is your hydrometer calibrated? Mine started reading a few points high and I found that the paper had slipped from being knocked around.

i really dont know? do i need to use distilled water to see if its uncalibrated?

thanks!
 
Yes. Should read 1.00 @60F.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline hospter81

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2012, 11:40:36 am »
sounds like something isnt working right for sure...

Has this happened before or is it a new problem that has only been happening your last few batches?

Have you tried any other strains of yeasts and had the same result?

I've done good batches with nottingham having a FG of 1018...flavor and aroma are spectacular...thats why i dont want to change the strain....but finally it could be a posibility :(

Offline mmitchem

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 358
  • Suffolk, VA
    • http://www.barfclub.org
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2012, 11:45:55 am »
sounds like something isnt working right for sure...

Has this happened before or is it a new problem that has only been happening your last few batches?

Have you tried any other strains of yeasts and had the same result?

I've done good batches with nottingham having a FG of 1018...flavor and aroma are spectacular...thats why i dont want to change the strain....but finally it could be a posibility :(

I hear ya. Is it possible that the yeast went bad? Do you buy new yeast for every batch or is it past the expiration date? Just thinking out loud...
Michael P Mitchem
Beer and Ale Research Foundation (B.A.R.F.)
AHA Member since 2011

Offline DrewG

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 359
  • Thread Killer
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2012, 01:41:38 pm »
Quote
Is your hydrometer calibrated? Mine started reading a few points high and I found that the paper had slipped from being knocked around.

+1 Same thing happened to me. 3 points high
"Well, the Mexicans got a saying - what cannot be remedied must be endured."

-Barbarosa

Offline Slowbrew

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2857
  • The Slowly Losing IT Brewery in Urbandale, IA
Re: Yeast suspension on green beer
« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2012, 02:04:53 pm »
My current hydrometer has always read 3 points high.  I'd definitely calibrate with distilled water and see where it is at.

Paul
Where the heck are we going?  And what's with this hand basket?