100% Brett B (Wyeast 5112) Beer

mors

So I needed to pitch some brett into a few beers to use it as a secondary yeast strain. I made a 2L starter....decanted and stepped it up to another 2L starter. So now I have a ton of brett. Going to pour some off (low amount to stress it on purpose) in both an Orval-like beer and a berliner weiss. The rest I was thinking I would try a 100% brett beer with. Any ideas on what base 'styles' would be best for this? I'm not even sure if this yeast will attenuate fully if used as a primary strain. I keep seeing mixed opinions on it online. Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

FromZwolle

brett b acts just like your average sacc strains when used by itself as far as attenuation goes.

I've done a couple all brett b ales and they turned out nice and funky. my personal preference for it is an amber/brown ale. Keep the ibu's on the lower end of the style as higher bitterness doesn't mesh too well with all the funky flavors. I like the carb level a tiny bit higher than the average 2.5 volumes.

Time is the real key to brett b. It can be done fermenting and carbonated in 6 weeks, but the flavor really needs time to come through. I suggest bottling these, as the yeast continues to alter/refine the flavor profile over time.

Try a bottle three weeks after you bottle and another ten weeks after. You'll have a drastic change in flavor. My beers reached their peak at around 3 months in the bottle, after primary for a month or two.

BenS

I completely agree with FZ. I've only done one all Brett B beer and so I'm sure that FZ's opinions are more educated than mine but I experienced the same thing he did. I made a simple blond ale, 1.050 SG 25 IBUs. It was done with primary fermentation after 2-3 weeks but I left it for 2 months in primary to clear and then kegged. It was fantastic, I highly recommend trying it for yourself.

EDIT. Forgot to mention that I fermented 65-70F (closet space in the spring)

Benvarine · Benvarine February 25 1751.00 KarmaPosts: 1,468

I heard an interview from Flat tail brewing, they had a bunch of Brett beers and at least one was all Brett I think. Might give you a style idea.

mors

Thanks guys. Hopefully I get to brew in teh next week... Judging a competition all weekend long so won't be this weekend :(

BenS

mors said:
Thanks guys. Hopefully I get to brew in teh next week... Judging a competition all weekend long so won't be this weekend :(

Bluebonnet?

mors

Homebrew at the WEB (world expo of beer).

mors

Also my Brett beer got put on hold... Idea popped in my head and I couldn't shake it... Maybe next brew day.

BenS

I am doing a brett beer on my next brewday as well. LHBS has bags of 2row for $36 and fresh brett L and C from white labs in stock. 10 gal batch split I think for next sat.