Brett Question - Love me some funk

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by DrinkSlurm, Dec 9, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. DrinkSlurm

    DrinkSlurm Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 New York

    I just brewed a 2nd runnings/leftover grain - black IPA off my RIS (kitchen sink kind of brew) - 1 gallon. Its a total experimentation and cost me nothing but time and a packet of yeast. I pitched a packet of S-04, aerated, then pitched the dregs of an Achorage galaxy IPA for some brett. The fermentation went crazy for about 48hrs then slammed on the breaks. I then read that brett may be slow when in a sugar rich env and to add it after a good fermentation has taken place. So a week later i threw some dregs of Fantome Noel right in...
    Now my question is, will I eventually see any signs of "life" in there? Pelicle?
    And, I guess, how much is too much when it comes to pitching dreggs? Is there too much?
    Oh...I dont own/use a hydrometer - its all about feeling (dumb and not precise, but I dont care).
    Thanks guys!
     
    #1 DrinkSlurm, Dec 9, 2012
  2. chianski

    chianski Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2008 Canada (AB)

    you should see some sing of life but may not be until a couple of months. Brett, specially from dregs, can be very slow.
    The pellicle will form if there's oxygen coming in to the fermenter, if you don't open it and keep the airlock fill then it could never form a pellicle. At the same time , if you do get a pellicle, this could or could not drop and when it drops it doesn't mean is done.
    I think in the case of this beer a you really need a hydrometer. we have no idea what was your OG or FG but i assume is above 1.010, that would mean that the brett has a decent amount of sugar to eat. in this case i would wait until i have no changes in the reading for a couple of weeks. I'm pretty sure galaxy IPA has brett brux, which can attenuate a descent amount and who know what you get in Fantome dregs and it could be some very attenuative brett strain or something else (lacto or pedio). I guess what i'm saying is either get a hydrometer (you really should, not just for this) or wait for a long time, at least 6 month maybe more.

    about the amount of dregs i'm not sure there such a thing as too many. never heard any one feeling this would be an issue. my guess it could just accelerate things.
     
    #2 chianski, Dec 9, 2012
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.