Chinook Grapefruit...

[Radcp]

This is my second take on the ultra session style but my first time using Chinook hops. Part of my goal for this brew is to make a semi bitter beer that my wife will enjoy which is why I included the grapefruit peel. According to YCH this is the dominant flavor of the Chinook and I would like to play off that. With my first ultra session I got 88% attenuation with Notty so the ABV was slightly higher than the calc. showed, which is ok with me but I dont expect 04 to get the same result. What do y'all think?

https://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/611007/wicked-session-2-0

 

[J A]

I like it!
I assume you know that you should "mini-mash" the Maris Otter, though depending on your steeping regimen, you won't need to do anything special, anyway. Last time I did an extract with base malt in the steep, I held in the low 150's for about 45 minutes just to be sure I got conversion - I think anything below 160 will work well for you. If you do that, you can count on more efficiency from your steeped grains. I usually count on at least 50%. It won't make a big difference but it'll raise your OG a few points higher than expected.

You're right about the S-04. I don't think I've gotten more than 80% attenuation with that yeast. I did a session Pale with Notty and it was definitely drier and thinner than I would have liked. Very similar beer with S-04 or US-05 is better, IMO.

 

[GFHomebrew]

yeah some times with some beer styles you dont want too big of attenuation. 88%! wow thats some happy hungry yeasties.

 

[Radcp]

I like it!
I assume you know that you should "mini-mash" the Maris Otter, though depending on your steeping regimen, you won't need to do anything special, anyway. Last time I did an extract with base malt in the steep, I held in the low 150's for about 45 minutes just to be sure I got conversion - I think anything below 160 will work well for you. If you do that, you can count on more efficiency from your steeped grains. I usually count on at least 50%. It won't make a big difference but it'll raise your OG a few points higher than expected.

You're right about the S-04. I don't think I've gotten more than 80% attenuation with that yeast. I did a session Pale with Notty and it was definitely drier and thinner than I would have liked. Very similar beer with S-04 or US-05 is better, IMO.

Yes, mini mash is complete 155f for 50 minutes and then onward!

Same here with notty, less body than I wanted but still tasty. It adds the right kind of flavors for a hoppy citrus beer.

 

[Radcp]

Wow, the S-04 blew through fermentation. 3 days in and its at 1.009! Pretty fast even though it was a little warm at 72f and gave me 75% attenuation. I dont have time to bottle until next Monday but I was not expecting this to be so quick.

 

[J A]

I dont have time to bottle until next Monday but I was not expecting this to be so quick.

Definitely don't bottle yet...let it sit for a full week at room temp to finish out. S-04 at that temp will throw some acetaldehyde and you'll end up with a very "homebrew" tasting beer. And if you're patient, it may attenuate another percentage point or two.