California Common - "Steam" Beer

[Brewer #417461]

I've been interested in brewing steam beer and have been reviewing various recipes. Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't this beer style be open-fermented - like Anchor used to do it?

 

[Bootsy Jankus]

You definitely could but you don't have to.

I like open fermenting a lot. Depending on the yeast strain it can really have a positive effect on the final product. All you need to do is throw some cheese cloth or something over the opening in your fermentation vessel (to keep dust out) and then replace that with your normal lid and airlock once it's most of the way through high krausen (to keep oxygen out).

 

[Brewer #423404]

One of my favorite fermentation methods is open fermentation. It may significantly improve the overall result depending on the kind of yeast used. A simple solution is to cover the fermenting vessel's entrance with cheese cloth or another suitable material.

 

[Ward Chillington]

shouldn't this beer style be open-fermented - like Anchor used to do it?

Did they or did they just cool the wort in the open air on the roof top of the brewery?