Muntons Conkerwood

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troublebrewing

Muntons Conkerwood

Post by troublebrewing » Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:24 am

Hi, I'll try not to make this sound like yet another stuck-fermentation thread, but...

Last November I put together a Muntons kit, and at some time the fermentation seemed to stick at SG of 1020. advice then was to give the wort a gentle stir, which I did, and that made no difference to the SG.

The next thing I did was add some more yeast, but this time used Safale 4.

Some light spray malt was put on top.

I can't remember what happened to the SG after that, but the beer was very drinkable, in my opinion.

Now today, I have just gone to check the SG on my second Muntons kit - Conkerwood. It's a brutal dark looking wort that I'm sure would be more appropriate for the Autumn/winter months, but I couldn't resist the heavy look of it.

I digress, but the point being that the SG today, seven days after I put the malt yeast and water in the fermenting bin, is again 1020.

So again I have just given it a gentle stir. Question: how long before I check the SG again? Question: when should I add the recommended 85g of light spray malt?

TIA
TB

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:41 pm

Thanks Daab - I saw tha FAQ the other day. What I've done then is stir the bottom of the bin gently, and put the lid back on.

I have also ordered some yeast vit and Safale 04 for use possibly next week if the SG hasn't dropped.

Thanks. TB

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Thu May 03, 2007 8:14 pm

Daab, I've just done the SG, and it had dropped a little from last time.

I have also just taken delivery of some yeast vit, and I'm reading your thread about stuck fermentations... I am wondering if adding the yeast vit can be done alone or if I should be adding yeast, checking the temperature and the other things on the list?

Do I just add the yeast vit and wait a few days?

TB

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Thu May 03, 2007 9:03 pm

I'm going for it now - wish me luck!

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Thu May 03, 2007 9:28 pm

So check the SG this time Friday evening, yes? Yes, TB, stop asking obvious questions!

Argghhhhhhhhhhh!

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Thu May 03, 2007 9:50 pm

Will check as suggested.

I must say that in neither of my two (wow!) brews, one last November and this 'un, I have never seen a giant froth like of which I have seen in some of the photos on the forum, and I *worry* (if that's the word) that I am not pitching the yeast correctly. (hydrating/how to add etc.)

Here's to a Friday inspection/Saturday SG check.

(this needs to be sorted for a 23rd June drinking date which is my son's first birthday party with some beer-hungry males!).

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Thu May 03, 2007 10:24 pm

Yeah, that was the one I had in mind, and have not seen yet.

Ok, I'llcheck the SG Friday eve, and then again Saturday.

Thanks Daab.

TB

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Sat May 05, 2007 5:59 pm

It might be that I've got a parallel thread going on here, but I just checked the SG of the conkerwood and it is just below 1020, so it must have moved a little. At least I hope I'm not sub-conciously 'willing' the SG to drop.

Should I keg it and see what it's like in a couple of weeks' time?

TB

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Sat May 05, 2007 8:28 pm

For how long is The question...

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Sat May 05, 2007 10:27 pm

okey doooookey..

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Mon May 07, 2007 11:21 am

It's now Monday, Daab, and the SG remains at 1020.

fivetide

Post by fivetide » Mon May 07, 2007 11:42 am

DaaB is the best source of advice obviously, but I managed to get another 5 points at this frustrating stage of sticking for a few days, by sprinkling a new packet of yeast, waiting 20 minutes, stirring in gentyl but thoroughly along with another half teaspoon of Yeast-Vit, and turning up the heat in the room to make it nice and warm in there. The warmth made a big difference I think.

The results weren't dramatic, but I did get another yeast head of sorts after 12-20 hours, some regular bubbler action for a couple more days and at least got down to 1015 in time.

The good news is the beer doesn't seem badly affected at all by the experience.

BUT I must stress I'm very much an amateur, going through similar experiences and taking similar advice.

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Mon May 07, 2007 12:29 pm

Thanks fivetide

Temp in here is currently 20 degrees which obviously falls at night... now I did buy a brew belt the other day - perhaps it would be a good idea to put it on? The vessel, not my waist I hasten to add.

Now, I have already added two extra sachets of Safale 04 to the brew, and two lots (maybe three?) of yeast vit. Is it a good idea to add more?

The only activity I can see as a result of all this is an extremely modest forth, more like a scum, on the surface - certainly never foaming like in one of Daab's pictures.

Still, encouraging to hear that you got the SG down to 1015.

TB

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Mon May 07, 2007 1:00 pm

... and the light spray malt as well, Daab?

troublebrewing

Post by troublebrewing » Mon May 07, 2007 1:02 pm

... this is day 15, btw.

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