Dog Bolter, How long can I be stuck?

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PMH0810

Dog Bolter, How long can I be stuck?

Post by PMH0810 » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:19 pm

Set off my Dogbolter and, because I was in a hurry, took an OG of 1.055 at a temp of 28c (needed the hydrometer for my latest batch of TC).

Does this seem about right or, as other posts seem to suggest, is it a little light?

Should still make a 5ish% ale, so no worries, but I was expecting more?

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:59 pm

You are a mine of info and have settled my concern again (although the speed with which you respond is generally quite scary)! Thank you!

First Dogbolter since the summer of '84 and, being a bit of an icon for me, am going to be disappointed if it's not perfect. Howver, ha2 "done what it said on the tin"...

Have stolen your graph for my "HB Idiot Guide" cheers again!

mctoon

Post by mctoon » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:06 pm

This was my DB i had lat Xmas, bit blurred but SG about 1072, turned out bloody lovely

Image

As you say its the taste, and i can vouch for that

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:56 am

Was more what I was expecting but, having followed the instrctions on the tin (and adjusting for temp - thanks DaaB) only reached 1.058.

No problem, sure it'll taste fine. Just wondering what I did wrong.

PMH0810

Dogbolter - stuck?

Post by PMH0810 » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:05 pm

Day 6 & 7 at 1020. Going to try rousing tonight but have Q's.

If OG was 1058 what FG can I expect?

If rousing doesn't do it can I pitch more yeast?

Yeast Vit I don't have and there's a 4 day (average) mail order turnaround. Is there a substitute I can get over the counter or can I get this in (for ex.) health food stores or chemists?

Sorry to be a pain but this Dogbolter marks my first foray into glass bottles and I am quite attached to my fingers...

fivetide

Post by fivetide » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:39 pm

Nerearest HBS to you is Holland-on-Sea, Frinton Road. Or Manningtree but that one doesn't open very long hours.

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:43 am

The Holland-on-Sea shop is known to me but it proves difficult in a working week from where I am. I'll never get there and back in a lunch hour and I have a Draconian boss.

Will be going past at the weekend because I am obviously going to need some but will the Dogbolter hold until then?

Roused last night, will be checking the gravity of the situation ( :roll: )tonight to see if anything's been achieved...

PMH0810

How long can I be stuck?

Post by PMH0810 » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:17 am

Saturday 1st was day 5, read 1.020. Today = day 9, read 1.020. This despite rousing over the last two night and extra yeast yesterday evening.

I know I need yeast vit and dried beer whotsit (either/both) but mail order will be two days (unless anyone can sugest a next day supplier?) or Saturday is the earliest I can get to my nearest HB Shop.

Saturday = day 12.

How long can I be stuck before the brew deteriorates? Would I be best cleaning my sink with it now? :?

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:51 am

1. What did you add to your Dogbolter kit? (spray malt or sugar and how much?)

1kg of Dark Spraymalt/Glucose (50/50).

2. Did you use the original yeast that came with the kit ?

Yes, but pitched Safale 04 last night. Nothing this a.m. Still have a sachet so will try your starter tonight.

It's a bit tricky to answer questions when your posts on the same brew are in three different threads so i've merged them to try and build up a better picture. It also helps if you include the following information.

Sorry, panicking.

JohnJeye

Post by JohnJeye » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:20 am

same thing is happening to me with my Black Pearl Stout at the minute, It hit 1020 at around day 7, hit some yeast vit in at day 9 and now at day 10 its only down to 1019.

Think I'm going to add another yeast starter to the kit and keep the heating on. I'm also sure its down to the cold weather and the yeast jumping into their sleeping bags and doing their best to go to sleep !


If the cold is the case then will keeping the beer at around 23oC wake them up or can I just forget about them. I'd be happy if it was showing 1016 but still a few points high for my liking.


I tasted it before I put the veast vit in and its hard for me to say but to me it tasted abit sweet and I could note a small patch of oily residue on the surface although the taste was very pleasent to me so I'm not worried yet

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:34 am

Thank you for the reassurance JohnJeye (and for the assist so far DaaB). Have got an order in for the essentials via The Hop Shop and will, in future, keet vit and enzyme in.

I understand there are no "hard and fasts" in this hobby but JohnJeye's stuck brew being as old as mine give sme confidsence all is not lost.

SWMBO will be watching me like a hawk as I pitch a batch of DaaB's live yeast tonight and hopefully Hops Shop['ll get me the other tomorrow/Friday...

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:57 am

Wish I'd known that Dogbolter was Munton's when I'd started. Heard so much of the Munton's stick I was avoiding their brews for the first few and I have a stash of Safale 04 in, just in case, that I could have used if I'd been aware...

:(

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:54 pm

My fault then - more research required next time! Thanks for the assist.

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:00 am

Repicted yeast as per DaaB's live starter last night. Doesn't appear to be much going on this a.m. but will check gravity tonight.

Still smells okay, if a little sweet. Hopefully HopShop's [package will arrive today so that I can try the other two options.

At the end of the day, if it all turns sour, I'll have lost about £16 and two weeks of brew time; not a lot really. Next one up is the John Bull's Choccie Stout (for Madam) and that'll go in unadulterated.

For future brews, should I be using yeast vit or beer enhancer as a matter of course for brews where I add Spraymalt/brewing sugar instead of std tate&lyle?

PMH0810

Post by PMH0810 » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:33 am

Bargain - thank you!

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