Need a bit more head

[Nick Good]

I have been playing around with a Monteiths original clone from AHB recipes. I adjusted the crystal malt and the pale chocolate malt because I was getting a beer that was way to honey like and now I am almost there. Also I have been using Muntons Gervin GV-12 yeast. It drops out so well that you can up end the bottle while pouring without any sediment. Clear as a bell. Pressure in the bottles is very good even after quite a short time.

I am just not getting a good head ( bubbly stuff I mean ) even though the carbonation is reasonable.

Can anyone give me some advice? Has anyone used GV-12yeast and what do you think it seems to take quite a while to pump up so to speak. Can I add some extra grain to give some good head without changing the flavour?

25lts

Golden promise 3.7

German wheat .46

Crystal .3

Pale choc .06

Working on temp control ( she is going to kill me ) but not yet.

BIAB

No chill

[Peter Church]

Carapils iswhat you need, 2-300gms should be enough to make a difference

[Chris]

I agree with Peter Carapils will definitely add foam retention and give improved mouth feel and body.

Your wheat should already give you a nice head.

By pump up do you mean for the low krausen to start? (never used GV-12 so can't help there)

The BIAB temperature plays a big role in how the proteins and starches get converted which can affect the formation of head.

Clean glasses (free of dishwashing liquid etc plays a big part in head retention too, any oils will ruin it)

Just document your process as meticulously as possible to see what changes get results, only changing one thing at a time and just have fun with the brewing process and being a mad scientist 

[Nick Good]

Thanks guys, I have been aiming at 66C and getting pretty close.

The yeast seems to take quite a while to carbonate in the bottle and it is really lacking in any head retention. Possibly after a couple of months it may be getting somewhere but I haven't tried leaving it that long. The bottles have a good ping when finger flicked as apposed to dull thunk and there seems to be quite good pressure but when poured it looks flat straight away. It just seems like the yeast isn't going the distance I guess I am asking a lot of it with out temp control but it has been clearing perfectly and fermentation seems good.

Will carapils  change the flavour at all? I am really pleased with the flavour but a bit of a fluffy head would take it to new levels.

[Chris]

So you aiming for a slightly dryer beer.
What are you using to prime your bottles and what temperature are your bottles being stored at?
are you rehydrating the yeast and aerating the wort?

Carapils is a light malt; it may add slight caramel notes (hence cara)

Random google search

http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/03/homebrewing-troubleshooting-h...

[Nick Good]

Using 1tsp per bot measured. I am not rehydrating but getting good aeration before pitching.

I changed from dark crystal to pale crystal to lessen the caramel flavour as it was a bit over powering.

Bottles stored at ambient. 

[MrC]

I agree with all the comments above.  I would also add that the body will likely be quite low on a 25L batch of beer with only 3.7kg base malt.  What was your Original Gravity?  

In my experience lower gravity beers need either increased mash temp or high levels of body contributing specialty malts to give good head retention.

Never used GV-12 sorry so can't comment on that.  Maybe try it again with 400g carapils and US-05?

[Nick Good]

OG 1034-6 also it is quite low hopped. The recipe says OG should be 1044 FG 1012 I getting FG 1008.

This yeast is just so clear and US-05 doesn't seem to drop away as well in the bots. I do use it on most brews.

Real Monteiths original has quite low carbonation and not a big head but I want better for my beer.

I will give some carapils a go on the next round.

[Peter Church]

Given your fermentables listed I would reduce the volume to 22 litres, that should lift your og to 1045 on a 68% efficiency which is ok for biab.mash temp of 67.8 should then leave you a fg or 1.011, should give you more body, mouth feel and head retention. Adding 200 gms carapils to this would then take your og to 1047.