General Question about Final Gravity vs Body

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Push_the_limits, May 9, 2019.

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  1. Push_the_limits

    Push_the_limits Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2018 Antarctica

    I've just been wondering about the difference in body/ mouthfeel in 2 recipes. Imagine you had one recipe with a very high-attenuating yeast, like WLP099, which attenuates to over 90% pretty easily, along with an addition of maltodextrin. The second recipe is exactly same except, for the sake of argument, you use the same yeast but stop it completely at 75% apparent attenuation without the addition any maltodextrin. Let's say you match the final gravitys of both beers.

    Is it worthless to lower the gravity in the first recipe, then add it back in? Is it a different type of body in the beer? Other than the difference in alcohol, what kind of differences would the drinker notice between these beers? Are there pros and cons to each recipe?
     
    #1 Push_the_limits, May 9, 2019
    Last edited: May 9, 2019
  2. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    For myself, I'd say it's worthless. When I brew similar batches, say an Irish stout and one batch used Nottingham and the other Windsor yeast, I am looking for the difference the yeast gives.

    When adding extra ingredients after ferment, it's for taste and perhaps some body or mouthfeel like coco nibs.

    I'd try a different yeast if body/mouthfeel is what your after cause99 is gonna make it feel thin to me.
     
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  3. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Never used WLP099 or malto-dextrin. Have you ever had success with using high mash temps for controlling attenuation? I'd probably go there first. ]Although I have already asked one question instead of answering yours, I have another: can you even get White Labs yeast in Antarctica? I struggle with getting it in northern Wisconsin.
     
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  4. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    @Push_the_limits : Antarctica :: @NiceFly : Tajikistan

    Just a hunch.
     
  5. riptorn

    riptorn Pooh-Bah (1,776) Apr 26, 2018 Georgia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Getting excited about my upcoming relocation to Freedonia :slight_smile:
     
  6. Push_the_limits

    Push_the_limits Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2018 Antarctica

    Luckily my LHBS supplies White Labs here in Antarctica. The hops are even sold frozen, along with everything else in store.

    Are there no general benefits to inducing a high-attenuation (making a dry beer) and using maltodextrin for body, as opposed to just doing low- or medium-attenuation?
     
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  7. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    It just seems to b a odd way of adding body and or mouthfeel.

    Since you are very interested in this try it. Perhaps you will be onto a new method.
    Have fun.
     
  8. Silver_Is_Money

    Silver_Is_Money Devotee (337) Jun 4, 2017 Ohio

    I've added a pound of maltodextrin to two 6.5 gallon to the fermenter batches in my day, and although it measurably increases the FG, I can't say that I perceived any improvement in mouthfeel. I'd say it is a waste of money and effort to add it.
     
  9. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    My comment about Antarctica was tongue in cheek, sort of an inside joke that harkened to my recent comment about never receiving something they told me would ship from “the Vault.” However, it probably surprises no one that some of the folks who do research there like beer; I’ve had drinks with at least a couple of them. I wasn’t ruling out the possibility that @Push_the_limits might be among them. I can imagine homebrewing might have found its way to the South Pole.

    I wonder about the International Space Station - I bet there have been some yeast in space experiments.
     
  10. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    Ridiculously low gravity beers no doubt.
     
  11. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I really should have seen that coming.
     
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