I have a Coopers Bavarian lager, made with 500g brewing sugar, and some steeped crushed crystal. This started off at an OG of 1.032, and after 10 days in primary, is now 1.008.
I also made a Morgan's Saaz Pilsener lager, with 500g medium spraymalt, and 300g brewing sugar. This started off at an OG of 1.038, and after 10 days is currently 1.012.
They are both in fermenting vessels, with sealed lids, but an airlock on each. This is the first time I have used an airlock, believe it or not. Anyway, at the moment, the Morgan's lager, when I take a sample for an SG test, is really really fizzy! Almost like it should be when being drunk. This obviously gives me a false SG initially. I really have to give the sample a good stir, and let it sit a while, before the majority of the gas has come out, so that I can get a more accurate SG. Is this normal? I understand that the gas is more likely to be absorbed into the liquid at lower temperatures - could my sample be warmed up to help?
Also, how long should this be kept in primary? My intention is to take it off the trub ater about 20 days (?), and keep in a secondary vessel for a couple of (if not three) weeks, to allow to clear, before bottling. Will there still be enough yeast knocking about by then to do the work? And will this gas be a problem?
Many thanks in advance
). Then you shake and repeat the withdrawing of the gas as its replaced.