Apologies, another stuck fermentation question

[maevans]

Hello all,

Started my first extract brew a week and a day ago. Vigorous fermentation at first got it down from 1.040 to 1.024 in a few days. A week and a day in and still at 1.024.

Should I assume its stuck and give it a stir to try and get it going? Or wait it out and see if it behaves?

Extra info: It's S-04 yeast and the temp has been fairly constant.

Nothing like brewing to blindside you just when you've done a few brews with no problems!

[jimp2003]

Firstly I would check that my hydrometer is in good order by making sure it read 1.000 in 20C water (or whatever temperature your hydrometer is calibrated to). If the hydro is fine then I would gently rouse the yeast with a long sanitised spoon or paddle - don't be too vigorous as you don't want to introduce oxygen to the beer.

It could be that something went wrong with the yeast - did you oxygenate he wort before pitching and was the temp at pitching in the right range?


Let us know how you get on...

Jim

[maevans]

Firstly I would check that my hydrometer is in good order by making sure it read 1.000 in 20C water (or whatever temperature your hydrometer is calibrated to). If the hydro is fine then I would gently rouse the yeast with a long sanitised spoon or paddle - don't be too vigorous as you don't want to introduce oxygen to the beer.

It could be that something went wrong with the yeast - did you oxygenate he wort before pitching and was the temp at pitching in the right range?


Let us know how you get on...

Jim

Thanks, yep the hydro is working, and I oxygenated that wort as much as my armys would allow and until my spoon was bending! Pitched at the right temp as well.

I'll give it a poke with the spoon and see if I can get it going again!

[Fido97]

Your mash temp may have been too high? If thats the case then you could try enzymes or maybe just leave it. Might be perfectly drinkable as it is although I appreciatye not quite as intended. Cheers

[Lars]

Hi Wood, can u explain that about mash temp? I've had this problem due to mashing too hot. See http://www.beoir.org/community/viewtopic.php?t=8577
Had what looked like the healthiest fermentation I've ever had and noticed FG was way too high on bottling day

Thanks

L

[Troutman47]

I'd check your thermometer is working correctly too.

I fell foul of this on my first two AG's and had stuck fermentations.

Who'd of known my 20 year old thermometer was out!!

[maevans]

Your mash temp may have been too high? If thats the case then you could try enzymes or maybe just leave it. Might be perfectly drinkable as it is although I appreciatye not quite as intended. Cheers

Interesting, it's possible I'm getting my terminology confused/shwoing my igonorance, but, this was an extractr brew, so I thought that means I didn't do any mashing? I followed this: http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/summer-ale and hit all of the tempeature checks on that.

UPDATE!: So, I gave it a stir 24 hours ago and I have the same reading as then, and it's looking pretty lifeless.

Would people reccomend giving it another stir and more time, or try pitching some more (rehydrated) yeast in there now?

Thanks all for the advice.

From a little taste test it isn't tasting too cloyingly sweet. Its the brewuk summer ale recipe with 2KG DME in there - not sure how much that would effect matters.

[jimp2003]

1.024 sounds like its way too high for that recipe to have finished at. If it was my brew I would bung in another pack of S04....

[maevans]

1.024 sounds like its way too high for that recipe to have finished at. If it was my brew I would bung in another pack of S04....

Thanks - I don't have any s-04 left in the house, but I do have a spare yeats pack from a St Peter's Ruby Red kit - d'you think its safer to go with the kit yeast or order another 2-04 to arrive in a few days?

[jimp2003]

I would order another S04.

Each time you open the FV to look at the brew or take a sample you risk introducing a bug so leave it alone then when the yeast arrives take another sample just to check that the level and if nothing has changed pitch the new pack.

[maevans]

I would order another S04.

Each time you open the FV to look at the brew or take a sample you risk introducing a bug so leave it alone then when the yeast arrives take another sample just to check that the level and if nothing has changed pitch the new pack.

So I repitched on Friday and there is no change today, 48 hours later. Is it time to admit defeat and bottle as is?