I did a pretty big red rye beer (1.080 OG) and it got down to 1.020-1.022 after a few weeks. It tasted fine out of the fermentor so I kegged it but then started wondering if there's too high an FG.
Thoughts?
Sun, Dec 9, 2012 - 5:05pm
#1
What's too high an FG?
I would think it depends on yeast chosen..and what you want to brew.
As well as your malt bill composition and more so, the temp of your mash.
What's the malt bill and yeast Jim ?
--james
Grain: 11 lbs. 2-row; 3 lbs. rye; 14 oz. c60; 6 oz. c120; 6 oz. roasted barley.
Yeast: Wyeast 1272.
w/ 2 packages of Wy1272 Beersmith says you should target 1.016 / 8.5% ABV
--james
For Medium Body : Mash at 152 for 60min... Boil for 60. 2 packs Wy1272 .... OG 1.080 / Target FG 1.018
--james
I use Beersmith, my exact recipe says 1.018 but what if you don't get down to the suggested FG? What's too high, too much of a difference?
I would say within 4-5 points and its close 2-3 points is optimal... Do you think the yeast stalled? Do you think you pitched enough yeast? Where do you have the fermentors located? I think optimum temp for that strain is 64-69. Sometimes when things stall I give the bucket a shake and fermentation resumes.
--james
Okay, so I was inside some kind of range (not like it stopped at 1.050 or anything like that). Thanks, James!
It's possible I didn't pitch enough yeast; it was in our ferm room (so, what, 67-68 dF?).
It's a moot point since it's in a keg, cold, and carbing. I'm sure it will be fine (according to BeerSmith it's 7.3% ABV and within the limits of the style...).
Curious what you hopped it with? Were you going for American Barleywine? Imperial Red Rye ?
--james
Cascade and Columbus; Red Rye.
Jim, over the past month our ferm room had some issues with not keeping a constant temp (which David & Adam fixed). Since we didn't have the circulating fan the temp in the back on top may have been around 68-70 degrees, but in the front on the bottom it was closer to 60. Depending on where it was fermenting this could have killed the yeast just enough to not get you down those extra couple points. Should still turn out though!