Weird fermentation

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Tebuken, Apr 29, 2013.

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  1. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    Hi guys, so I am fermenting a saison beer using Belle Saison dry yeast for the first time.I have pitched it last sunday at 66 F, it took off 12 hrs later performing a nice white foam atop the wort and blowing off some yeast .It is a 1061 OG beer that it is fermenting very hard , still 30 bubbles/min.I can see its foam has fell down,there is only a 1 inch wihite foam, it is smelling good though.I fermented 5 days at 66 ,then I raised temp to 70 for the last 2 days .
    It was a fresh yeast pack I rehydrated properly before pitching, but just 1 pack, is it possibly it ´s been underpitched?
     
    #1 Tebuken, Apr 29, 2013
  2. scurvy311

    scurvy311 Savant (1,135) Dec 3, 2005 Louisiana

    What was your batch size?

    Am I missing something? What is the "weird" part?
     
    #2 scurvy311, Apr 29, 2013
  3. VikeMan

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

    I haven't used this particular yeast, but it sounds like a normal fermentation to me.
     
    #3 VikeMan, Apr 29, 2013
  4. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    It was 5 gals, sorry but i have never seen a fermentation so hard after 7 days.All my fermentations are normally done at day 7, instead I have 30 bubbles running at this very moment,that sounds weird to me, I don´t know,that´s why I ask you
     
    #4 Tebuken, Apr 29, 2013
  5. AWELROD

    AWELROD Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2013 Texas

    Yep! Sounds good to me! Just ride it out. Best of luck!
     
    #5 AWELROD, Apr 29, 2013
  6. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've got a saison that has been bubbling away for a solid week. I keep ramping my temp up and it keeps fermenting. Sounds like you're on the right path.
     
    #6 SFACRKnight, Apr 29, 2013
  7. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    I just kegged a Saison with Belle also. Very deliberate, yet subdued fermentation at 68*F, but it was a 1.050 OG
     
    #7 GreenKrusty101, Apr 29, 2013
  8. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    Still 20 bubbles/min day 8. Im not sure this is going on the right side.
     
    #8 Tebuken, Apr 29, 2013
  9. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Saisons take a bit to ferment out completely. Just let it keep going, and go by steady gravity with a week between readings instead of the standard three days. The last few points can take a while.
     
    #9 MrOH, Apr 29, 2013
  10. mattbk

    mattbk Savant (1,111) Dec 12, 2011 New York

    If you keep fermentation going at this rate, that beer is going to be dry as all hell!

    Wait, it's a saison? Well, what's the problem then??
     
    #10 mattbk, Apr 29, 2013
  11. pweis909

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

    Bubble counting is not as helpful as a gravity reading. It could be that fermentation is finished and it is just offgasing. However, I understand your curiosity. Take a hydrometer reading and taste the sample to satisfy your curiosity and to use as data points when you take subsequent readings to evaluate whether it is finished. I never used the yeast before, but my rule of thumb is to never transfer until at least two weeks have passed. For certain yeast strains (the Dupont strain, lagers) more time is warranted.
     
    #11 pweis909, Apr 29, 2013
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  12. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I have brewed many Saisons with various strains of yeast (predominantly Saison yeast strains). I have not used Danstar Belle Saison dry yeast yet.

    The Dupont yeast strain(s) of Wyeast 3724 and WLP565 have a reputation of being very slow fermenters even at elevated temperatures. I made a 1.060 Saison with 3724 which I fermented in the 80’s F and that batch took 4-5 weeks to complete.

    I suspect that the Belle Saison dry yeast is just ‘doing its thing’ and the fermentation will obviously take longer than 7 days (which is not unusual for a Saison strain).

    Please report back how your Saison turned out and whether you recommend the Belle Saison dry yeast strain.

    Cheers!

    P.S. Pitching an 11 gm packet of dry yeast (re-hyrdrated) is not an under-pitch.
     
    #12 JackHorzempa, Apr 29, 2013
  13. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    Good to know that, it makes me feel calmer.Don´t worry ,I will report this yeast performance.
    Thanks all guys.
     
    #13 Tebuken, Apr 29, 2013
  14. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    Well, as I stated above Im reporting this yeast performance:

    I have pitched a 5 gals OG 1061 Saison on 4/21 at 66 F, it took 12 hs to have a nice fermentation running.It was bubbling like hell 5 days,then I raised temp to 70 F for 3 days,after that it started winding down its rage,the last part was made at 72 F.It has no bubbles activity since 2 days, so today I took a little sample, it has a very nice malty aroma,it is very turbid but its taste is fantastic(Im not a geek drinking Saisons though), some clean maltiness comes upfront, low estery,I think I can feel some subtle clove and overall a very nice complex flavor with a pronounced dryness(not harsh neither astringent)at the end of the sip.I didn´t take a gravity read yet but I think it must be around 1010 or a bit less.I was afraid at first because it took at least 12 days to finish its job.

    Nice yeast !!!!!
    Very recommendable.!!!!!
     
    #14 Tebuken, May 6, 2013
  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Esteban, thanks for the update on your Saison!

    Please provide another input when your beer is carbonated.

    It looks like the Danstar Saison yeast is a good yeast to use.

    Cheers!
     
    #15 JackHorzempa, May 6, 2013
  16. JebediahScooter

    JebediahScooter Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2010 Vermont

    Possibly the best description of a fermentation that I've ever read! Glad your brew seems to be working out...
     
    #16 JebediahScooter, May 6, 2013
  17. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina



    I won´t forget it Sir, Im sure is gonna be a good beer.
     
    #17 Tebuken, May 6, 2013
  18. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina



    Lol, sorry, my english sucks, is it a big blunder?
     
    #18 Tebuken, May 6, 2013
  19. VikeMan

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

    It's not a big blunder. But it was a very colorful description, which is what I think JebediahScooter meant.
     
    #19 VikeMan, May 6, 2013
  20. Tebuken

    Tebuken Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2009 Argentina

    ok, im learning from you guys, thanks for your patience!!!
     
    #20 Tebuken, May 6, 2013
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