Another FG question!!

[seannicholson2]

Hi i put down my second brew down 9 days ago (Muntons Yorkshire bitter, brew blend#20- malt plus brew booster, 5g of Fuggles hops, 12g of goldings hops infusion bag and muntons premium gold yeast) Temp has between 17-21C,the airlock has also stopped bubbling after 8days, OG of 1052 and i took a reading today of 1020 for the second day running. on the instructions with the kit it said FG should be 1010-1012, should i bottle it or leave it for a few more days?

Help much appreciated,
Sean

[aurelius121ad]

I'd leave it another couple of days just to be sure. At those temps it can take anywhere from 11-15 days to finish up (see the "basic brewing instructions sticky thread). It cant hurt you to leave it... bottling too early can! Plus you will end up with a clearer beer due to more yeast falling out of suspension.

[Iron-Haggis]

I second leaving it for a few days. Also how much did you make the brew up to? Do you know what is in the brew booster? There are a loads of calculators around to help know approximately what the FG should be. Try http://www.brewcraft.com.au/wawcs019616 ... lator.html for a few different ones. But with the cooler weather at the moment and using ale yeast you do need to leave it for probably 2 weeks.

[seannicholson2]

Hi guys i took your advice and left it for another week (so now its been 2 weeks in the fermenter) and this time last week i got an FG of 1020 and today i got a reading of 1018. Shall i just bottle this one? or do you have any other thoughts?

Cheers,
Sean

[lethaldog]

Rack it and leave for another week or so, racking can usually stir the yeast up a bit and make them finish their job, just dont leave it in the primary for any longer than 3 weeks

[seannicholson2]

This is only my second brew so ive only got the 1 fermenter so i wont be able to rack it, so shall i bottle it?

[warra48]

This is only my second brew so ive only got the 1 fermenter so i wont be able to rack it, so shall i bottle it?

No, I wouldn't bottle it if you still have a gravity reading of 1018.
At current winter temperatures the yeasts tend to slow down and take their time to finish the job.
Some yeast really sprint along for the first 3 or 4 days, and then slow down to a crawl, dropping a point or so per day.
There is absolutely no harm in leaving your beer in the fermenter for 2 or even 3 weeks, to ensure it is finally done. I never bottle before 2 weeks minimum.
The last thing you want to do is bottle too early, and produce a batch of bottle bombs.

[seannicholson2]

yeh did another check this morning and its now down to 1015 so almost there!!

[warra48]

Good to see it is still dropping.
Remember though, your objective is not to reach the predicted gravity nominated on the kit. Your final gravity may differ somewhat from what's predicted, as there are numerous factors which can influence that.
Instead, aim to have your brew fully fermented out, and to bottle after you have stability for 2 or 3 days.