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Author Topic: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?  (Read 1322 times)

Offline librarianbrews

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Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« on: April 10, 2021, 01:46:47 pm »
I'm making an bourbon oaked oatmeal stout. I'm adding some coconut and cherry (Montmorency concentrate) today. I did a taste today and it seems really good. Rich flavor and the bourbon is there with just a hint of the oak.

I read a lot of articles about adding the oak and bourbon and many that I liked said to add it to the secondary and then let it age for a couple of months. It didn't occur to me until today that I might not want to bottle after that long of a secondary fermentation. I'm having trouble finding the answer to that on the internet or in my books.

I do usually keg, but was hoping to bottle at least a few of these for gifts and to see how a longer conditioning in a bottle would turn out. Is it too late? Are my yeasts gonners?

Offline denny

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2021, 01:54:46 pm »
I'm making an bourbon oaked oatmeal stout. I'm adding some coconut and cherry (Montmorency concentrate) today. I did a taste today and it seems really good. Rich flavor and the bourbon is there with just a hint of the oak.

I read a lot of articles about adding the oak and bourbon and many that I liked said to add it to the secondary and then let it age for a couple of months. It didn't occur to me until today that I might not want to bottle after that long of a secondary fermentation. I'm having trouble finding the answer to that on the internet or in my books.

I do usually keg, but was hoping to bottle at least a few of these for gifts and to see how a longer conditioning in a bottle would turn out. Is it too late? Are my yeasts gonners?

There's likely plenty of yeast left.  What was the OG of the beer?
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Offline librarianbrews

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2021, 02:08:35 pm »
 What was the OG of the beer?

It's a little high. 1.023

Offline majorvices

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2021, 03:45:51 pm »
I personally like to add a little dry yeast when a beer is sitting around long in the secondary or if it is high gravity. I have had problems with it carbbing consistently -- and consistency is the key here. Just rehydrate a quarter packet of dry yeast and mix it in.

Offline denny

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2021, 04:18:03 pm »
What was the OG of the beer?

It's a little high. 1.023

No, the original gravity, not current gravity.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline librarianbrews

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2021, 06:19:35 pm »
What was the OG of the beer?

It's a little high. 1.023

No, the original gravity, not current gravity.

Oh heh. I should have looked it up to make sure I was answering the question. My OG was 1.07.

Offline Steve Ruch

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2021, 10:10:38 pm »
You'll be fine; it takes a really long time for so much of the yeast to drop out that you'd have carbonation issues.
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Offline denny

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2021, 08:06:20 am »
What was the OG of the beer?

It's a little high. 1.023

No, the original gravity, not current gravity.

Oh heh. I should have looked it up to make sure I was answering the question. My OG was 1.07.

No need for more yeast, then, IMO.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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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 librarianbrews

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Re: Too long in the fermenter to bottle?
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2021, 06:44:36 pm »
Thanks all. I appreciate the answers so I can feel confident in my bottling.