Whats NOT going on !!!!!

[Dogman]

Hi all,

I started my Muntons OLd Conkerwood Black Ale on 19/9/09.

The gravity as of 29/9/09 was 1.022ish, the temperature in the room is approx 16 degrees with 3 towels wrapped around the FV meaning the temp of beer should be higher?

I roused FV and left for 24 hrs with no effect, on 30/09/09 I added Safale 04 yeast and gently stirred in, gravity remains the same and this yeast is visible on top of the wort but is doing nothing.

Do I have a problem with the temperature(My house is similar to an igloo even during the summer months) although as stated I have 3 towels wrapped around to try and insulate or do I need to add Yeast Vit and Dry Beer Enzyme from Brupaks?
If so my local home brew shop does not stock either of these.

This is only my 5th brew and all previous attempts have been a success(Ok Brupak Scammonden Dark I pitched yeast at too high temp but sorted it in the end).
Your expert advice would be very well received plus is the length of time in FV ok?

[flything]

Well the recommended temp for Safale 04 starts at 15c but I still think 16 is a bit low especially as fermentis recommend that the wort is at 20c when sprinkling the yeast directly on the wort. It might just be slow to start but I'd try to raise the temp up to 20 to see if that kicks it off. Hopefully you can find somewhere in your house that's a little warmer! While fermentation does generate heat and the towels would have kept some of that in they won't do anything once fermentation has stopped.

Some good advice here viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3523&st=0&sk=t&sd=a, hope it works out with you, if it doesn't then next time make sure you have really aerated the wort (I mean give it a really good thrashing) before pitching yeast, we all have the odd batch that doesn't turn out how we wanted it too (well I do anyway!) so don't be disheartened

[sargie]

If you struggle with temperatures perhaps you should invest in a brew belt to help keep the wort warm. I have one and if the room temp drops below 18.c i plug it in and it keeps the wort at 21.c.

[beer]

or you could try an aquarium heater gives more control over the temp

[Dogman]

Thanks guys,

I'm goin to local brew shop this mornin to purchase brew belt do you think I should gently rouse wort and as the temp increases this will kick start fermentation? I want to try everything before confining the contents of FV to the sink.

[dunc]

yep. stick the brew belt on and give it a gentle rouse, should kick it back off again hopefully.

[Dogman]

Thanks for all your replies.

I have purchased brew belt and placed this around FV and gently stirred wort 24 hrs later it appears as though the hydrometer has dropped a couple of points. I will monitor this over the next few days and hopefully it will drop further .

For your info my previous brews have been

1 ) Ibrew bitter - ready after 3 weeks as it suggested a lovely beer and the tap a draft system is excellant with 10 pint keg
2 ) Wherry bitter - took 8 weeks to clear but now it is has a lovely light flowery aromer
3) Brupaks Scammonden - dark full of flavour very good on these increaingly cold nights
4 ) Milestone black pearl - Not ready until the end of this month but tasted great out of FV

[Philipek]

or you could try an aquarium heater gives more control over the temp

Just had a quick look at aquarium heaters. This might work for me. I'm not comfortable refridgerating but I could store an insulated fermenter box on the porch with a heater installed. The price is right but I'm not quite sure how one might use them seeing as they are submersible. Do they work as well on air as on water?

[harvs]

Do they work as well on air as on water?

N0 - they might burn out!You submerse them in the fermentor and pass the cable through a hole in the airlock bung.

I do this and it works very well. Just keep the fermenter in a room which is below 20 degrees (doesn't sound like a problem in your house!) and leave it to it.