Time period for fermentation

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Sheepy

Time period for fermentation

Post by Sheepy » Fri May 18, 2007 8:34 am

Im now on my second kit (Youngs Harvest Yorkshire bitter) and whilst my first kit fermented out very quickly this one is realy taking its time. Tomorrow it will have been in the barrel 10 days and it still has yeast head on it (although not a big one). There is still slow activity viasable and the hydrometer is showing a very slow drop in gravity. The room temp has been on average 19 C and im using Nottingham yeast. Kit was made up with 1.5Kg sugar according to instructions, 1Kg glucose and 500g spray malt. In the techniques section it mentions the beer should be left for ten days total.
Any advice?
Cheers.
Sheepy.

fivetide

Post by fivetide » Fri May 18, 2007 8:38 am

If it's still doing its thing with a yeasty head and dropping gravity, just leave it for a bit. Check it after the weekend maybe? It's reckoned you can leave it up to three weeks in primary with no bad effect.

steve_flack

Post by steve_flack » Fri May 18, 2007 8:40 am

You mention it's in a barrel. Is that the same barrel you serve from? If so if it's still gently glugging away then leave it some more. There's no fixed time a beer should take (although 10 days is a bit long for an ale). It all depends on the beer being fermented, how much nutrient there was in the wort, oxygen content etc etc.

For example I've got a beer at home that I brewed on Tuesday and last night (Thursday) when I looked at it it had slowed right down and the gravity was where I'd expected it to finish. That was a well oxygenated, low gravity bitter fermented with Safale. On the other hand I've had Belgian strong ales that have taken a couple of months to reach the right FG.

Sheepy

Post by Sheepy » Fri May 18, 2007 8:46 am

Barrel bit may have misled, its a big plastic bucket with lid and tap. I thought I had oxygenated well, certainly more than my last brew. Original gravity was 1042 and now has just dipped under 1010 so would be happy with the abv. it just seems to want to keep going. Very Slowly!

Sheepy

Post by Sheepy » Mon May 21, 2007 10:24 am

After the weekend the head has reduced a wee bit and the gravity is about 1006 ish so cant be much left to do now.

Sheepy

Post by Sheepy » Wed May 23, 2007 1:38 pm

Its been at 1004 for the last two days so im bottling tonight :D

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