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Fermentation Stopped

Posted: Friday Oct 31, 2008 12:20 am
by warrent
A little history.

Various grains-Crystal 90, Flaked Maize, Munich, Roasted Barley.

6.5 lbs Munton's amber malt

Bullion Hops

Windsor Brewing Yeast

Starting gravity was 1055

I finished brewing as per the instructions and pitched the rehydrayted yeast when the wort reached 74f at about 2pm on 10/26. This morning (10/27) I found the airlock clogged and the top of the fermenter lifted up on one side. I popped the top all the way and covered the wort with my clean brew pot lid while I cleaned things up. The temp of the brew was about 77f. I put the cover and airlock back on and put the fermenter outside to cool down to to about 69f. Now the airlock lets loose with a little bubble only every 40 seconds or so.

Since then there has been no activity and the gravity has been 1021 for the last two days. Should I pitch more yeast, wait longer or rack it? I'm starting to worry.

Re: Fermentation Stopped

Posted: Friday Oct 31, 2008 5:31 am
by warrent
Doesn't anyone have a suggestion????

Re: Fermentation Stopped

Posted: Friday Oct 31, 2008 7:41 am
by warra48
I don't think there is any point in pitching more yeast. It is unlikely to achieve anything at this stage.
I think you are better off just leaving things as they are for about another week, and allow the yeast to finish its job. I don't think racking would necessarily improve things, as you are removing your beer from the bulk of your yeast cake.
You fermented towards the top of the temperature range, and the yeasts would have done the initial fermentation really quickly in a comfortable environment.
I'd try to rouse the yeast by swirling your fermenter (try not to splash) to resuspend the yeast from the bottom. I suspect you might drop it another point or two.
I've bottled brews which finished at 1020, and that's as far as they would go, and that was an AG brew. If you have stable readings in a weeks time, it's ready to bottle etc.
I don't know how much crystal you used, so you might have quite a decent proportion of unfermentables in your mix, and you may not be able to drop the FG much further.

PS. Please think about entering your location on your profile, it might help to get you in contact with other local brewers.

Re: Fermentation Stopped

Posted: Friday Oct 31, 2008 10:46 am
by warrent
Thanks wara48,

I'll do what you say and I just added my location to my profile.