Is my brew stuck...?

[stupot]

Hello everybody, newbie to the site (and to brewing really) and looking for some advice.

I've seen the articles on 'stuck' fermentation but wondered if you more experienced types could tell me if my brew is actually stuck or not...?

This is a Woodfordes Nelsons Revenge Kit which I started on 11th Jan. I put the yeast in a bit of warm water to get it going (I read this was a good idea somewhere) and then poured it into my fermenter. Nothing much happened for a day so I checked the temperature of the fermenter and if fluctuated between 16 and 18 degrees so I thought it was probably too cold.

I ordered a brew belt heater which did not arrive until 15th Jan which I immediately fitted. I waited another 24 hours and nothing happened so I assumed the yeast must have 'died' or something... is that the right term? Anyway I bought some Youngs Ale Yeast and sprinkled it on top (16th Jan) and within a short time fermentation started.

I was expecting fermentation to take quite some time but today not much is happening. There seems to be some slight fermentation but it is definitely not vigorous. Temperature is between 18 - 24 whenever I have checked it. I was given a hydrometer for Christmas and while I don't really know what I am doing with it I have managed to figure out today that the gravity is about 1014 to 1015. I read somewhere that this might mean that fermentation is stopped....

What do you guys thing....? Can I salvage this brew or should I strart over with a new brew?

[Lillywhite]

I've seen the articles on 'stuck' fermentation but wondered if you more experienced types could tell me if my brew is actually stuck or not...?

A Woodforde's kit is only considered stuck if it doesn't drop below 1.020.

As Chris has said, the instructions on the Nelson's Revenge mentions 1.014 and by the sound of it you are just about there.

I would leave it for a couple more days, checking the SG each day, and if it remains the same then I would keg with 85 grams of brewing sugar.

[stupot]

Thanks for your help.

I will follow your advice and let you know how I get on.

[randomdave]

Heres how to use your hydrometer.

Prepare your brew. BEFORE adding yeast pop in your sanitised Hydro and take a reading. This will be for example 1.045 (its never a fixed number btw an will vary from brew to brew) This is your starting gravity reading.
Towards the end of the fermentation you do another reading and it will show as you have about 1.014, again this varies from brew to brew. once you have the same reading in a 24 hour period that means its ended its ferment and is ready to keg or bottle. This is the FInal gravity reading.

you can use those figures to work out the alcohol content or the ABV % its quite a simple sum

start gravity - end gravity x 131

so in the case of the example its 1.045 - 1.014 X 131 = 4.061%

Hope that helped and wasnt too confusing.

[Lillywhite]

start gravity - end gravity x 131

Out of interest is 131 always fixed?

This site gives a higher %ABV for the same OG and FSG figures.

http://www.liquorcraft.com.au/wa.asp?id ... etails=106

[randomdave]

yeah 131 is always fixed. I dont know why tho i have to admit. Ive just seen that calculation on many websites, I think its also on wikipedia too.
The method chris posted works too but it gives it to a few decimal places so some people might not prefer it. I guess its all about prefrence ^^

[Lillywhite]

I think its also on wikipedia too.

The main reason not to trust it.

[stupot]

Thanks for those tips on the hydrometer. I didn't take a start-reading but I will next time.

I'll take another reading tonight and see if it has stabilised.

If I said to you which is your preferred web site for that calculation, which would it be...?

[randomdave]

hehe i didnt actually take it from wikipedia, If i remember correctly i just googled ABV calculation and I found an information site about various alcohol related things.
But the most trusted website woudl be this one

[stupot]

of course.

Anyway, I bottled it last night, I guess we'll see in a few weeks time.

[stupot]

I know you will probably all shoot me down in flames, but I actually opened one of these today. They are not completely clear yet but hell it was the only booze in the house!

Anyway it tastes okay so thanks for your help.

[randomdave]

hehe you lasted 6 days, not a bad effort. I usually last 4 an crack one open. I think when i sold my soul i must have thrown in my patience as an extra