Homebrew Report #250975

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: avatar08

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Yourself
HBD-

Have you ever messed around with a batch of barley wine? I love this time of year as there are so many breweries in my area that come out with great barley wines.


Self

I'll be making my first barley wine Tuesday.

I just finished one 2 weeks ago, cramming 32lbs of grain into my mashtun was a little much but in about a year should be ready to go.

Instead of using a starter and stepping up the yeast I pitched it on a yeast cake from a Nut Brown that I had just moved to secondary. Still cleaning Krausen off of the ceiling from where the airlock blew off.
With an OG of 1.122 it really got to moving quick I just hope it doesnt floc out to soon on me.

I have done a couple of big ones that would be in the low end of the barley wine range. All I can say is hop till you drop and then throw in some more.

 

[Nitemare]

Apparently my invite must have gotten lost in the mail....


Sounds like it will be a nice party

 

[avatar08]

You are right about upping the IBU's for a BW. I never really cared for the English style BW's because it is just too much malt without enough balance for me. The BW I just make I cranked it to about 130 IBU just to try to even out the huge amount of malt for a 5gal batch. Kinda felt weird only doing 5 gal instead of 10, but as you say no need to have so much BW around when I've usually got at least 8-9 cornies of something else ready to go. Should be ready to bottle in about another month, I moved it to secondary yesterday and its dropping right on down just fine. Aiming for about 1.018 or so I figure before this strain gives up.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: avatar08
You are right about upping the IBU's for a BW. I never really cared for the English style BW's because it is just too much malt without enough balance for me. The BW I just make I cranked it to about 130 IBU just to try to even out the huge amount of malt for a 5gal batch. Kinda felt weird only doing 5 gal instead of 10, but as you say no need to have so much BW around when I've usually got at least 8-9 cornies of something else ready to go. Should be ready to bottle in about another month, I moved it to secondary yesterday and its dropping right on down just fine. Aiming for about 1.018 or so I figure before this strain gives up.

what yeast are you using?

sounds good to me... i whole heartedly agree with your perception of english BWs... their meads can be way too sweet too. blech.

oh, and pitching on top of a yeast cake is a great way to make a fast beer. My kolsh was completely done in 10 days at which i tasted it and kegged it. almost like instant beer. I imagine with your BW, the extra yeast cells will help get that FG down to .02 or so. My first BW never got below .03.... a tad tooo sweet for my tastes.