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

Author Topic: Fermentation Temperatures  (Read 1827 times)

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27090
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Fermentation Temperatures
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2020, 12:14:17 pm »
When I was in Belgium a year or so ago, Westmalle tripel was my go to.  I've always started fermententation on mthaty version of it at 63F.  Talking to brewery reps confirmed tha6 was a good choice.

That's reasonable. The chart from Brew Like a Monk (I went and pulled it out to make sure I wasn't talking crap) says they and Achel pitch at 64º, and Westvleteren pitches at 72º. This is for the Achel/Westvleteren 8 and Westmalle Dubbel.

Thanks.  I'd forgotten all about that chart.  I'll have a look.

And as I think about this, I know I get far preferable results at temps lower than those listed.  I wonder if it's maybe due to differences in the yeast?  For instance, we know that 3787 has Westmalle heritage.  But it's likely not the same as the version Westmalle uses.  I wonder if that accounts for the different results?  And if so, are we on a fool's errand when we try to slavishly recreate what they do?  Would we be better off to trust our tastes rather than what we read?  Interesting questions....
« Last Edit: July 20, 2020, 01:20:17 pm by denny »
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline Kestrel Brewing

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Re: Fermentation Temperatures
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2020, 02:42:22 pm »
When I was in Belgium a year or so ago, Westmalle tripel was my go to.  I've always started fermententation on mthaty version of it at 63F.  Talking to brewery reps confirmed tha6 was a good choice.

That's reasonable. The chart from Brew Like a Monk (I went and pulled it out to make sure I wasn't talking crap) says they and Achel pitch at 64º, and Westvleteren pitches at 72º. This is for the Achel/Westvleteren 8 and Westmalle Dubbel.

Thanks.  I'd forgotten all about that chart.  I'll have a look.

And as I think about this, I know I get far preferable results at temps lower than those listed.  I wonder if it's maybe due to differences in the yeast?  For instance, we know that 3787 has Westmalle heritage.  But it's likely not the same as the version Westmalle uses.  I wonder if that accounts for the different results?  And if so, are we on a fool's errand when we try to slavishly recreate what they do?  Would we be better off to trust our tastes rather than what we read?  Interesting questions....

Agreed. In addition to the fact that we are getting an approximation of the actual yeast rather than the yeast from the brewery, there's a really good chance that as the conditions around the brewery change, the yeast strain changes. There are wines being made from grapes in England now that wouldn't have been possible to grow 20 or 30 years ago.

And beyond the yeast differences we have to figure in the fact that things like thermal mass and even the amount of pressure of a commercial batch will dramatically impact how a beer will turn out. Trying to exactly replicate what a brewery is doing in a massive cylindro conical fermenter is never going to be achievable in a 5 gallon or even 15 gallon batch without some kind of adjustments. And making adjustments means drinking beer which is almost never a bad thing.