Help/advice

[andyctr]

Evening all,
Completed my 2nd brew last Sunday, and pitched the yeast around five in the afternoon, The OG was 1050 virtually spot on, I have just checked the gravity and found it only around 1030, I would have thought this should be somewhat lower by now?? I have kept the brew at room temperature and have got a good head of yeast which started the Sunday eve, could anyone tell me if this is about right, what action if any can be taken if its not or any possible cause of whay its a slow drop. Any comments/advice would be most welcome.
Many thanks in advance.
Andy

[mysterio]

What yeast did you use and what's your recipe?

I agree with the above though, check it again at the weekend.

[andyctr]

Hi again,
Yeast I used was safale 04 and the recipe was one from the camera book from the Cornish Brewery, "Churchill amber beer" I have checked again and being more accurate the SG is nearer 1026, there is still a good head of yeast with plenty of bubbles reaching the surface. Will keep a check on it and take a reading again tomorrow eve. Thanks again for the replies.
Andy

[TheBigEasy]

In my experience that is unusual for S04.
When I have used it, it has fermented like the clappers and dropped to 1010 within four days.
Was it a new packet, or had it been lying around for awhile?

[Calum]

Did you get a good starter going and aerate the wort prior to pitching?

I made a brew a couple of weeks ago and I made the quick starter with the wort and I found that it was slow to create a good head of foam and also ferment down (there was also the issue of the house being cold for a few days which didn't help). However, I made another lot on Tuesday but the yeast starter had been prepared a couple of days prior to pitching and the difference was quite dramatic. It had created a large yeast head within a couple of hours and is fermenting rather vigerously. I used the Safale S 04 in both brews.

Having said that. The first one did eventually ferment out and has been in the barrel for a couple of weeks and is drinking beautifully.

[mysterio]

Everything sounds normal, just give it a few days.

I personally wouldn't worry about a starter with modern dried yeast, especially s04. That stuff takes off like a rocket and the yeast cell count is plenty high.

[andyctr]

Evening all.
Well I must say thanks for all the replies, I have checked tonight and I am down to 1020 so I may have been a bit premature, that said its only my second first full mash brew and I only had the first to compare with and I had that in the barrel at 1010 on the Friday eve after brewing on the previous Sunday, I did aierate the wort prior to pitching, it had a good hour, I did not re-hydrate the yeast only sprinkled on the surface and the packet is about a month old to me and kept dry indoors. Like I say I may have panicked as its certainly dropped since last night and still shows a good head with bubbles reaching the surface.
Thanks to all again, this is a great tool with a wealth of experience/knowledge at the press of a button, I guess thanks must go to Jim too for kicking it all off. I'll keep you posted but so far so good )
Good weekend to all. Andy