Oatmeal Stout Help

[Ron Burgundy]

I made an oatmeal stout and pitched a wyeast 1084 that came off my stir plate after about 2 days. It seemed to be going well my airlock was popping nicely, tapered off and with the advice from my local homebrew shop I transfered to my secondary after 4 and a 1/2 days. The activity was very little if any so I took a reading and came up with 1.026. My OG was 1.077 right on target. My FG was supposed to be 1.118-1.022. I'm really new to this so any advice would be great. Thanks!

[darylM]

First, welcome to the board!

Next, it sounds like everything is going well. This board normally recommends a 1-2-3 approach. One week in the primary, 2 weeks in the secondary and 3 weeks in the bottle.

I am not familiar in brewing beers of that strength but I would forget about the beer for two weeks or more. This will allow the flavors to mingle and make the beer taste better. For more information , check out www.howtobrew.com.

[markaberrant]

I would always leave a 1.077 beer in primary for at least 2 weeks, but that's just me. At the very least, 1 week.

1084 does not have very good attenuation, plus some oatmeal stouts have a ton of residual body. You are around 66% attenuation, which still seems a touch low, but may not be out of line, it depends on your recipe. Why don't you post it?

[Ron Burgundy]

Here is the recipe I used

6 lbs. amber malt syrup (I used Mt. Mellick)
2 lbs. darek dme
12 oz. crystal malt 90 lovi.
8 oz. chocolate malt
8 oz. roasted barley
4 0z. black patent malt
1 lb. rolled oats
1/2 stick brewers licorice
1 oz. chinook at 60 min.
1 oz. willamette at 60 min.
1 oz. willamette at 3 min.

There it is. Thanks for the feedback

[BrewDog]

Sounds like a pretty nice Export Stout to me.

More and more here are favoring 2 week or longer primaries, with no secondary.

I've started doing this, and have liked the results, though I have been considering adding a short secondary (for crash cooling) back into the mx, just for the additional clearing, not for any fermentation effects.

What i've seen though with the last few beers has been the last gallon or so kicking up extra floaties or other goop out of the bottom of the keg. I haven't had any off flavors due to this, but it is kind of unsightly and it seems like a cop out to tell people to ignore it. I'd rather just rack to a secondary for a couple 3 days, to help clear it up.

Either that, or go with the short dip tube all the time.

[markaberrant]

Brewdog, instead of crash cooling in secondary, why not crash cool the primary before transferring to keg?

[Mad Scientist]

To get back on topic:
Ron, that is alot of extract with a lot of speciality grains. It sounds like your FG is right on target for your recipe.

[BrewDog]

Brewdog, instead of crash cooling in secondary, why not crash cool the primary before transferring to keg?

I do that sometimes, too, but I still think that the extra racking helps eliminate just that little bit more of the yeast when I siphon. Usually the yeast from secondary tends to stick better than the yeast/trub from primary.
So, if I make use of the secondary as nothing more than a longer term grant, I tend to end up with clearer beer with far less floaties and sediments in the final pints. IF I do that. Which I often DON'T.

I understand and agree with the fact that an extra rack is an extra chance to invite contamination. But in all honesty, it only takes a few batches to get the sani processes down. I really don't worry about sani because I am highly confident in my sani processes.

The bigger issue is exactly how busy/lazy I am/am not on a particular day. I sometimes let a beer sit in the fermenter an extra week because I'm either too busy or just too damn lazy and don't feel like moving it to the next container. I have more than enough beer in my pipeline that I don't ever NEED to hurry the beer along. Kinda sad but true.

Sorry for the ramble. It's been one of those days. I'm just kinda feeling blah.

[Ron Burgundy]

So, in all essence, I can ferment in my primary for the whole cycle. Then if I prefer, transfer to my secondary just for clarity purposes.

I am new but I am also confident in my sani skills. I'm pretty anal about the process.

I am hoping to follow in your footsteps BrewDog, I too want to have enogh beer in my pipeline.

I just want to thank you all for your input.

BrewDog your so wise, your like a miniature Buddha covered in hair
(I sure hope you get that)

[BrewDog]

So, in all essence, I can ferment in my primary for the whole cycle. Then if I prefer, transfer to my secondary just for clarity purposes.


Yep.


I am new but I am also confident in my sani skills. I'm pretty anal about the process.


Great! Be confident in your process, and follow it always. That's no place to cut corners.


I am hoping to follow in your footsteps BrewDog, I too want to have enogh beer in my pipeline.

I just want to thank you all for your input.

BrewDog your so wise, your like a miniature Buddha covered in hair
(I sure hope you get that)

:eek:

Nah, these guys know as much if not more than me. I learned most of what I know about brewing right here over the last 4 or so yrs. I'm just grateful they all let me hang out here with 'em.