[Bel Air Brewing]

With the Safale S-04 yeast, what would be the best temp to ferment a Barleywine at? It is ideally good from 59 to 68. But the actual range is 53 to 77.
But for a high gravity beer (1.087), is warmer better?

It is going like gangbusters now, at 68 F.

What is your experience?

[Iliff Ave]

I start to get weird notes from 04 at or above 68F. I personally keep it in the low to mid 60s

[Bel Air Brewing]

I start to get weird notes from 04 at or above 68F. I personally keep it in the low to mid 60s

I will slowly ramp it down to 64, over the next several days.

[Iliff Ave]

I start to get weird notes from 04 at or above 68F. I personally keep it in the low to mid 60s

I will slowly ramp it down to 64, over the next several days.

That’s just my experience. Others will likely disagree.

[Bel Air Brewing]

I start to get weird notes from 04 at or above 68F. I personally keep it in the low to mid 60s

I will slowly ramp it down to 64, over the next several days.

That’s just my experience. Others will likely disagree.

The temp is down to 64 now. This thing is alive...going like gangbusters! Hope that's a good sign of things to come.

[Bel Air Brewing]

Pulled a small sample yesterday off the ferment...after 10 days, the ABV is 9.65%.
And the ferment activity is still going strong. This might end up near 11%.
Taste was malty, smooth, with a slight alcohol presence.
I hope it ages well!

[Iliff Ave]

Pulled a small sample yesterday off the ferment...after 10 days, the ABV is 9.65%.
And the ferment activity is still going strong. This might end up near 11%.
Taste was malty, smooth, with a slight alcohol presence.
I hope it ages well!

Yum. Always wanted to do a barley wine. What’s the gravity at?

[Bel Air Brewing]

Pulled a small sample yesterday off the ferment...after 10 days, the ABV is 9.65%.
And the ferment activity is still going strong. This might end up near 11%.
Taste was malty, smooth, with a slight alcohol presence.
I hope it ages well!

Yum. Always wanted to do a barley wine. What’s the gravity at?

OG: 1.087 / BRIX: 20.9

Now - BRIX: 11

The numbers say this is nearing the end, but I'll let it go for another week to 10 days.

edit: Made an error in my reading. The current ABV is 8.73%.

[Bel Air Brewing]

Pulled a small sample yesterday off the ferment...after 10 days, the ABV is 9.65%.
And the ferment activity is still going strong. This might end up near 11%.
Taste was malty, smooth, with a slight alcohol presence.
I hope it ages well!

Yum. Always wanted to do a barley wine. What’s the gravity at?

OG: 1.087 / BRIX: 20.9

Now - BRIX: 11

The numbers say this is nearing the end, but I'll let it go for another week to 10 days.

edit: Made an error in my reading. The current ABV is 8.73%.

Interesting I get an abv of 5.64% with those figures...

The alcohol is greater than 8%, based on the aroma and the taste.
Here is where I got the figures:

https://www.northernbrewer.com/pages/refractometer-calculator

https://www.brewersfriend.com/refractometer-calculator/

I ran the numbers again, and it came in at 8.73%. It does say this is an "approximate" value.

[Iliff Ave]

Pulled a small sample yesterday off the ferment...after 10 days, the ABV is 9.65%.
And the ferment activity is still going strong. This might end up near 11%.
Taste was malty, smooth, with a slight alcohol presence.
I hope it ages well!

Yum. Always wanted to do a barley wine. What’s the gravity at?

OG: 1.087 / BRIX: 20.9

Now - BRIX: 11

The numbers say this is nearing the end, but I'll let it go for another week to 10 days.

edit: Made an error in my reading. The current ABV is 8.73%.

Interesting I get an abv of 5.64% with those figures...

The alcohol is greater than 8%, based on the aroma and the taste.
Here is where I got the figures:

https://www.northernbrewer.com/pages/refractometer-calculator

I ran the numbers again, and it came in at 8.73%. It does say this is an "approximate" value.

My mistake. I was converting your Brix measurements to SG which I now realize is incorrect. I like a hydrometer....

[Bel Air Brewing]

Pulled a small sample yesterday off the ferment...after 10 days, the ABV is 9.65%.
And the ferment activity is still going strong. This might end up near 11%.
Taste was malty, smooth, with a slight alcohol presence.
I hope it ages well!

Yum. Always wanted to do a barley wine. What’s the gravity at?

OG: 1.087 / BRIX: 20.9

Now - BRIX: 11

The numbers say this is nearing the end, but I'll let it go for another week to 10 days.

edit: Made an error in my reading. The current ABV is 8.73%.

Interesting I get an abv of 5.64% with those figures...

The alcohol is greater than 8%, based on the aroma and the taste.
Here is where I got the figures:

https://www.northernbrewer.com/pages/refractometer-calculator

I ran the numbers again, and it came in at 8.73%. It does say this is an "approximate" value.

My mistake. I was converting your Brix measurements to SG which I now realize is incorrect. I like a hydrometer....

We now use the refractometer for everything. Don't use the hydrometer much at all now.

[Bel Air Brewing]

Looks like 8.8% ABV is all she wrote.

Great taste, but was hoping for a bit higher octane.

[BrewBama]

I recommend you make notes so you can adjust the recipe with necessary changes to meet your goal the next time you brew it. If you’re like me you won’t remember so the notes come in handy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Bel Air Brewing]

I recommend you make notes so you can adjust the recipe with necessary changes to meet your goal the next time you brew it. If you’re like me you won’t remember so the notes come in handy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes, for sure. My brew logbook dates back to 1990!

[Iliff Ave]

So your OG was 20 points lower than a planned?