Muntons stout stuck advice

[ianac1]

Hi guys

Visited my LHBS for coopers stout but they were all sold out and recommended the muntons irish stout.

I've made this up using 1kg medium DSM but after 4 days it's stuck at 1.018, ideally i'd like to get this down at least 6 points or all the way down to 1.008 as it says on the tin!

I've read the stuck fermentation thread and tried everything barr adding yeast vit, is this the answer?

The stout has nothing going on at all just now and smells a little sweet so i'm sure there's fermentables to be "had"

What says you guys in the know? (apart from don't buy muntons again)

[Horden Hillbilly]

I've made this up using 1kg medium DSM but after 4 days it's stuck at 1.018, ideally i'd like to get this down at least 6 points or all the way down to 1.008 as it says on the tin!

As your brew has only been fermenting for 4 days, it is probably still fermenting. Have you took hydrometer readings at 24 hour intervals?

I've read the stuck fermentation thread and tried everything barr adding yeast vit, is this the answer?

If your hydrometer readings are the same 24 hours apart, yeast vit & a gentle rousing of the brew may be your best bet.

[BrewerBoB]

I agree with H. Hillbilly, 4 days isn't nearly long enough - even though the Muntons kits are questionable at the minute you might have to leave a brew for a few weeks in the FV before racking it. It should get there eventually, yeast vit may taint the taste of the beer if the yeast don't have a chance to use it all (which is why it's best to add it at the start of a brew). If you're feeling really impatient a gentle rouse might move things on a bit - be careful not to splash it!

[ianac1]

Thanks for replies guys.

Gravity readings had stayed the same over 2 days.

LHBS didn't have any yeastvit but the woman recommended another sachet of yeast which seemed to do the trick.

Now i have another problem, while at the LHBS they had the coopers stout in so got some, along with 1kg brew enhancer 2 and 500g dark DME (she threw that in for free) so made that up to 20 litres.

Before adding the yeast i have never seen so much froth in my life! there was around 3 inches of it sitting on top of the actual wort.

Anyway i sprinkled on the yeast and stuck it away in the cupboard (temp varies between 18 lowest to about 22 degrees) and i was expecting fireworks from what i've read about this kit.

Nothing happened?

I checked this morning and all that's happened is the airlock had blown off but no froth or anything. Should i just take the airlock thing as a positive, leave it and see how it goes?

After what i'd read on this, basically ditchs stout, i would've had some cleaning to do this morning!

[EoinMag]

If the airlock blew off then it did that because there was pressure in the FV, don't worry it's all working. It depends on your conditions as to whether or not you'll get the very vigorous ferment that others get, but blowing an airlock off if pretty vigorous if you ask me. Relax, it's all working, don't worry.

[sargie]

Thanks for replies guys.

Gravity readings had stayed the same over 2 days.

LHBS didn't have any yeastvit but the woman recommended another sachet of yeast which seemed to do the trick.

Now i have another problem, while at the LHBS they had the coopers stout in so got some, along with 1kg brew enhancer 2 and 500g dark DME (she threw that in for free) so made that up to 20 litres.

Before adding the yeast i have never seen so much froth in my life! there was around 3 inches of it sitting on top of the actual wort.

Anyway i sprinkled on the yeast and stuck it away in the cupboard (temp varies between 18 lowest to about 22 degrees) and i was expecting fireworks from what i've read about this kit.

Nothing happened?

I checked this morning and all that's happened is the airlock had blown off but no froth or anything. Should i just take the airlock thing as a positive, leave it and see how it goes?

After what i'd read on this, basically ditchs stout, i would've had some cleaning to do this morning!

Give it 24-48 hours and it will be foaming like a mad un m8

[ianac1]

Thanks guys, that's reassuring.

It's just that it's getting so cold here now, sunny scotland and i don't have any way of heating it if temp drops too low.

Might have to invest in a heat belt.

[EoinMag]

Thanks guys, that's reassuring.

It's just that it's getting so cold here now, sunny scotland and i don't have any way of heating it if temp drops too low.

Might have to invest in a heat belt.

Throw an old towel over it, or wrap an old quilt around it.

[ianac1]

You lot were spot on.

The morning i posted i took my daughter to school, came back and the airlock was bubbling away.

Since then it's been nothing but froth blowing out all over the place! a good sight

SG was1.052 and i checked there and it's sitting at 1.020 so i'll leave it for a few days and see if it drops anymore.

Thanks again

I'm just an impatient bugger.

[sargie]

You lot were spot on.

The morning i posted i took my daughter to school, came back and the airlock was bubbling away.

Since then it's been nothing but froth blowing out all over the place! a good sight

SG was1.052 and i checked there and it's sitting at 1.020 so i'll leave it for a few days and see if it drops anymore.

Thanks again

I'm just an impatient bugger.

My advice to you m8 would be to leave it alone the more you mess with it and open it up the more chance youve got of contaminating it and ruining the brew