Out of control hefe!

[mmmBeer...]

So, as mentioned in a previous thread; I washed and stored my hefeweizen yeast for another batch (whitelabs hefe yeast). I decided to do another batch this past weekend, so I removed the washed yeast from the fridge and made a starter (1 qt in a 1.5 qt wine bottle.)

Next day, starter all over the place, fermentation lock filled with yeast, starter all over the shelf, and me going “will the starter survive!” I cleaned out the ferm lock, and put it back on.

Brewed up the extract etc for a new hefe with a twist (oats, aiming for between a wit and hefe) OG 1.050. Checked it this a.m. blowing foam nicely…nothing out of the ordinary (used a blow off tube). Come home this evening (10 hours later) and there is foam everywhere! It popped the bung. At first I thought the tube got plugged, but I stuffed it back in and it lowed nicely. The only thing I can figure is that the pressure got too great for the bung and blow off tube and popped the top. What a damn (but nice banana smelling) mess!

Not asking for any advice just can’t believe the power of this (recycled) yeast!

[paul84043]

That's pretty impressive! I still think 1.050 is a pretty high gravity hefe...

I invested in a 1" tygon blowoff tube, I don't intend to ever come home to that mess again...

[mmmBeer...]

I agree about the .050 OG being high. I am starting to wonder if my hydrometer is off…when I look at other recipes using this amount of DME, the OG values are lower by about 0.004.

I think I have some distilled water at home, so I might try and calibrate it.

I only used 3.3 pounds of wheat DME and 3.3 pounds of light DME, and 1 pound of oats. All within the “normal” hefe/wit amounts used in this style. ( I threw the oats in just for fun)

One of the books I have suggests that hefe’s should be between 1.048-55. So according to this I am still in the correct range.

This is the first time I have had a carboy blow the top off…

I’ll have to see if I can get a 1” tube somewhere, my local shop doesn’t sell them. However, I think the hardware store has food grade hose that size…

[BREWERDLUX]

MMMMMMM Sounds like you got it right........ I generaly shoot for about a 52 O.G. on my hefe. I add about half a pound of crystal 20 to give it a bit of sweetness and some mouthfeel. Wheat ferments out pretty dry (as you can see by your crazy blow off). I usually use about 60% wheat in mine, but to each his own. The great thing about homebrewing is we can always try it different next time. Cool idea about the oats! I use them in my wit recipe, but never thought of it in my hefe.

[mmmBeer...]

The last one I made used 95% wheat, and no grains, so this is a severe difference form the last one I made. It was also more of a wiezenbock, as the OG was 70. Tasted good before I bottled it though...

I just decided to try the oats on a whim...figure it can't hurt!