A stuck Wodfords wherry.. first timer help

[adamwalton]

Guys,

Firstly... top site with loads of info... some of which I wish I had used on my first brew.....

the problem I have is I think my wherry has stuck, but as I am new to this, so I am unsure....

I have the following readings from the hydro..

brew started on the 1 Feb Hydro reading was 1.040
4 Feb hydro was 1.022
5 Feb hydro was 1.019
6 Feb hydro was 1.019
it started to froth really well but now there is only thin cover over the brew, although it is still bubbling a little, but not much!

I don't think I mixed the wort enough (after reading this forum) and I didn't know about the hydrating of the yeast (again, something I have found on this site)

So my question is.. are the reading correct and I am worrying over nothing, or has it stuck? I have just ordered some more yeast just in case I need it..

Many Thanks

Adam

[anomalous_result]

Read this first.

It might have stuck, I'd first rouse it and wait another 24 hours.

[adamwalton]

Well,

I have given a gentle rouse and the reading today is 1.016 so it has come down a little more, but it still looks very dead, I have also moved it into the the living room were the temp is a little higher to see if that will put some life in it.. I will leave it there for another 24hrs then see..
I have also brought some more yeast in the shape of Muntons premium gold and some safale us05, if the warming doesn't work shall I add one of these?
and do i re-hidrate it first?

So many questions.... so little time


Adam

[MightyMouth]

If its dropped 3 points then it is fermenting, just let it go about its business. You only have 2 points to go to 1.014 which is about as far as a wherry is expected to go. I would even keg it at 1.015 if that's as far as it gets.

[Sheepy]

My Wherry made it to 1016. This was close enough to the estimated FG of 1014 for my liking si kegged it and it tastes great. I wouldnt worry about it.

[PeteH]

I'm doing a WOodfords Admirals Reserve at the moment, and it got stuck at 1020. On Daabs advice I pitched an active starter (i think thats what its called) and it came down to 1014. Maybe I should have bottled it at that point, but I happened to be in my local hbs and wanted some dry beer enzyme for future use, got talking and he suggested using it in my Admirals reserve. I stirred it in on saturday and its now down to 1010. However, the kit says it will be 4.5%, so it should get to about 1006 to achieve this strength. I don't think Woodfords should be stating 4.5% on the box and then in the instructions saying to bottle below 1020.

[adamwalton]

Right......
it finally dropped to 1012 and has been transferred to a king keg,
now here comes the next question...
Do I put CO2 in? it has got pressure already.. but do I/can I put some in to give the beer a little fizz?

Thanks again for all your help

Adam (a novice)

[PeteH]

On Daabs advice I pitched an active starter (i think thats what its called)

I don't think there is a proper name for it as such. It isn't a proper starter as there wont be any significant increase the the number of yeast cells but it does prepare the yeast for the task ahead, particularly if it is going into a partly fermented beer with it's lower ph and unfriendly alcoholic environment.

You wont end up with a bad beer having pitched the DBE, personally I would have prefer a beer or that OG to stop around 1008-1010, i'd prefer it a shade higher rather than lower as I don't like a beer to be too dry. The main thing is though is you didn't suffer a stuck fermentation and you'll end up with a good beer as long as you ferment at the right temperature and treat it gently when bottling or barreling.

Welcome to the forum btw, another couple of brews and we'll have you all grain brewing

Cheers Daab.
I was thinking of trying extract brewing, as you don't need any more equipment, but don't know about AG. Got a baby on the way so need all the money and space i can get.

[PeteH]

Ha ha. I guess I could be tempted. At least its something to put on birthday/xmas lists. Any guide as to the minimum cost of the equipment needed? Apologies if it's already outlined on here. (then I'll stop hijacking other peoples threads)

[PeteH]

Wow, cheaper than I thought. And thats my local shop too.