did a split batch barley wine 10 gallons total; splitting into 5 gallons each with wlp007 and wlp545. Did 3 liter starters with both, both yeast/starters were healthy and good to go. Oxygenated both for 2 minutes with pure o2. OG was 1.130, fermentation temp at 68 entire time. It's been 4 weeks to the day so I took gravity readings. Wlp007 is at 1.040 and the wlp545 is at 1.062! Everything looked and should have been fine. I checked my hydrometers; using two to make sure that wasn't the issue. I've never had a fermentation take this long with large healthy starters, proper fermentation temps and oxygenated wort. Recipe was nothing crazy, just Marris otter and a bit of chocolate, Munich and crystal malts. I'm Going to let them go another week and check them; if little to no change I'm pitching new yeast. Any thoughts?
Thermometer was accurate. And I checked with 3 diff therms. Mash temp was 148 F for 120 minutes. Low and slow.
You said that you've never had fermentation take this long, but have you ever brewed a beer with such a high OG before? I took over 4 weeks on a 1.085 OG before, due to some issues with temperature control. Beer turned out fine in the end - just took a while. Also, have you ever used these yeasts before? The internet suggests that wlp545 skews warm as far as fermentation temp goes (68 seems to be towards the lower end of its spectrum). I say bump it to 70 and let it go a little longer, checking gravity periodically. If it's still going, albeit slowly, then why mess with a good thing.
Yep, brewed many a high gravity brew. Never had these issues before. Used both yeasts many times. Typically they are aggressive and attenuative. I roused and bumped up to 70 yesterday upon taking my readings to try and get things going. As I said I'm gonna let them go a week and if they are moving in the right direction I'll let them go until finished; if not I'm adding yeast. Just odd at how long this is taking, most of my brews; even high Gravity ones finish rather quickly and always by the 4 week mark. Guess they are just short bus yeasties...
Two reasons why I would never describe WLP007 as aggressive or attenuative. 1) WLP007 in a hi-OG wort is little more than a lap dog. It just can't wait to lay down and go night-night. Pleasing wet dreams where almost 60% (apparent) attenuation warrants a full day's pay. 2) See #1.
"Typically"; as stated in my post. In my experience with both yeasts doing his same recipe several times; both have been "typically" aggressive and highly attenuative. I'm aware of others experiences with wlp007 being less attenuative than desired. Wlp545 is one of the most attenuative strains ive ever used and it is attenuating less than the wlp007 at this point. Just trying to nail down why if I can. Thanks
May not answer the why, but bump them both up to around 74-75*F. The bulk of the fermentation is already done, you shouldn't get any fusels or esters beyond what is already there from the initial fermentation. I typically keep the initial temps at low to middle for the strain, then after a few days bump it to the upper, then after a few more days jump it to around 75*F and let it rock the rest of the way until done.
So I raised the temperature up to 74 since the first post and both have remained unchanged. No other choice but to re yeast. Is there any reason anyone can think of for this? Healthy starters and good temps, but shitty performance is just so odd to me; having trouble wrapping my head around it. Don't want to waste new yeast if something catastrophic is happening. Beer tastes fine, just sweet as all hell with so much unfermented sugar... Anything else I should check for before re yeasting? Thanks in advance.
Were it me, I would use the Chico yeast to finish these out. I would also make starters at pitch at high krausen.
So I added huge starters of Chico at high Krausen and the 007 batch dropped to 1.025 and the 545 batch dropped to 1.032 after all of this time. They have been steady over the past 4 days so I'm letting and calling it. Thought the Chico would eat them down a bit more; especially since I did 2 liter starters. Just not good attenuation on these ones. Don't think I'll ever really know why...
