Brewed a flemish red about a month ago with ECY02 Flemish Ale yeast with an OG of 1.052 and didn't make a starter as I didn't want to change the amount of different yeast and bacteria in the blend. I also pitched it in the primary without any other Sac strain. Started out fine then about a week later it stalled at 1.020 and has been there ever since and has already started to form a pellicle. I am planning on this beer taking close to a year to finish but I would've assumed it would've gotten lower than 1.020 by now. I have the heat up to about 78F and am hesitant to go any higher. I'm curious if anyone else has had any experience with this yeast. Should I let it go for a few more weeks/months to eat through some more points before I rack it to secondary or should I move it over sooner and not worry that it is only at 1.020? ECY02 description: "A unique blend of yeast and bacterial cultures. Produces dry beers with sourness and notes of leather, fruit, and cherry stone. Contains: S. cerevisae, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. Perfect for Flemish reds, oud brune, and other sour ales. Designed to be pitched into primary fermentation, but can be added at any stage. Availability (year round)"
I wouldn't worry, and let the brettanomyces do its thing over the next 6+ months, in primary. Take another reading in a month, and I bet gravity will have dropped another point or 2.
I am planning to brew a Flanders red ale shortly. After I get my OG, I don't plan to take another reading for at least 6 months. 9-12 months would not be unusually long to wait for the flavor to develop. If there are bugs in there, you are not stalled, just moving at a different pace from any traditional yeast you may be comparing it to.
Thanks for the info. After reading responses and doing a little more research I'll be moving it to secondary tomorrow then I'll forget about it until next summer. Will be harvesting the yeast and using it again very soon.
That's awesome! I don't have the space to give up for extended conditioning, with the exception of this one last additional carboy...
