Low Temperature!!

[coops]

Hi everyone.

Ive just started with my first brew (Geordie Bitter). I put it out in the garage to ferment as the temperature was 19degrees. Problem now is the temperature has fallen and the beer was at 15 degrees possibly for 2 days. There is a foamy head on the beer already so I take it fermentation has begun. I have no power in my garage and have now managed to move my beer into the house where I can monitor and control the temperature much more easily (the boiler cuboard sits at 20 degrees).

Do I need to add any activation yeasts or give my brew a quick stir or shall I just leave it? As this is my first attempt I am not sure and dont want to write off my first ever batch. Any help will be gladly appreaciated

Mark

[OldSpeckledBadger]

The foamy head shows that the yeast is working. Just leave it to do its thing.

[coops]

Sorry for the late reply been away this weekend. Left the beer to do its thing and the temperature is now at a steady 19 degrees and has been all weekend still has a foamy head so looks like its ok fingers crossed. Looking forward to getting it kegged and in a glass!!

[coops]

Hey guys got some more newbie questions.

I'm a bit confused reference stuck fermentation. I have moved my brew into a warmer place head was still foamy now the foam has reduced but the reading has been constantly 1014 for 3 days now. I think this may be due to having the brew out in the colder place for the first 2 days of fermenting. I'm brewing a Geordie Bitter for 7 days now. Do I leave it a while longer or give it a gentle stir (do you scrape all the stuff on the bottom of the FV when you stir it up) as I have read on previous posts or keg it with a reading of 1014??

Many thanks for your help

[brysie]

hi coops. what fermentables did you use and what was the sg at the start?
if youre brews been going for a week or more and you are getting a constant reading over 2 or 3 days, then its probably finished.

[coops]

Hi brysie

I used 1 KG of Youngs Brewers sugar and the SG was around 1040 I cant remember exactly!! (schoolboy error)!

[brysie]

ah well if you went all sugar then it may go a bit lower but so long as you get constant readings over a few days i`d say it was probably done.
you could try gently rousing the yeast with a sanitised paddle but personally, for a couple of points drop its probably not worth it.
they usually take ages to clear if you stir things up towards the end of fermentation too.
1014 from 1040 ish is about 3.5% abv. not bad for your first brew, truth of the puddin is when you have your first pint

[coops]

I'll leave it for a day or so see if it goes any lower then. Dont really fancy disturbing it if its only going to drop a few points. Looking forward to the first pint though!

[KevP]

I'll leave it for a day or so see if it goes any lower then. Dont really fancy disturbing it if its only going to drop a few points. Looking forward to the first pint though!

Patience Grasshopper, don't rush the conditioning, I know the temptation is high but resist, its easy

[coops]

Patience Grasshopper, don't rush the conditioning, I know the temptation is high but resist, its easy

Ahh Sensei my knowledge is little. With all of your teachings I will become better!!

[coops]

Well just thought i would give you all an update.

Was going to keg my brew this evening or tommorrow morning but now the reading has decreased slowly to 1011!! The foamy head has gone near enough now so I shall leave it again for a few more days see if it gets lower!!

This home brew making is testing my patience as I wanna taste it now!!

Cheers for your help

[coops]

Ok well gravity stayed the same for a couple of days so I kegged my first ever home brew this morning! Managed to prepare my King Keg pretty easily and syphon from my FV into my keg with no problems. It is now back in the boiler cuboard to keep warm for a week until I can move it into the cooler garage. Even took a small sample to taste and it was not too bad but looking forward to tasting it again in a few weeks.

Many thanks to all the posts I have read and all the answers people have had to my queries! Cant wait to get the next one on the go (need another FV Keg/bottles but birthday is near)!

Has anyone ever tried Maplemoon by Joseph Holt Brewery? Had a bottle last night and wondering if there are any kits similar.

Well best get writing my birthday wishlist for the other half to go to the local homebrew shop!