• Stuck fermentation? Home brewing beer from kit that supplied malt, yeast and hops

    From NY@me@privacy.invalid to rec.crafts.brewing on Sun Sep 13 18:17:23 2020
    From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.brewing

    This is my first attempt at home brewing. I'm brewing cream stout from a kit (St Peters) which supplied the malt, yeast and hops.

    I made sure that the wort was below 25 deg C before I added the yeast and
    the hops (which meant waiting a few hours because the recommended amount of boiling water to tap water resulted in about 28 deg C).

    After adding yeast, SG was initially 1040 and temp was 24.5 deg C.

    After about 24 hours, fermentation had begun: I didn't see any CO2 emerging from the water trap but maybe the lid of the fermentation bin doesn't fit
    too well. However there was a lot of froth on the surface.

    3 days after adding the yeast, SG had gone down to 1023. But on the 4th and
    5th days it is still 1023. The temperature for all three of those readings
    has been 19.4. There is now very little of the froth left.

    It looks as if fermentation may have stopped. I gather this is described as "stuck fermentation".

    The instructions say to wait until 5-7 days, by which time SG should have dropped to "below 1014", so I'm not giving up until a week from adding the yeast, but it's looking as if there's a problem.


    Does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried to be so careful to sterilise
    the jug that I use for taking a sample, the measuring cylinder and the hygrometer - and then to rinse them thoroughly before come in contact with
    the beer. Likewise I sterilised and then rinsed the fermentation bin before adding the viscous malt and then the boiling/tap water. Could I have got
    some sterilising solution into the wort - could that have killed the yeast?
    Is it worth "rousing" the yeast by stirring to include any sediment on the bottom?

    Or am I worrying over nothing: is it too soon to panic?


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  • From Baloonon@baloonon@hootmali.com to rec.crafts.brewing on Tue Sep 15 00:36:19 2020
    From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.brewing

    "NY" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote in news:rjlk7m$84k$1@dont-email.me:

    This is my first attempt at home brewing. I'm brewing cream stout from
    a kit (St Peters) which supplied the malt, yeast and hops.

    I made sure that the wort was below 25 deg C before I added the yeast
    and the hops (which meant waiting a few hours because the recommended
    amount of boiling water to tap water resulted in about 28 deg C).

    After adding yeast, SG was initially 1040 and temp was 24.5 deg C.

    After about 24 hours, fermentation had begun: I didn't see any CO2
    emerging from the water trap but maybe the lid of the fermentation bin doesn't fit too well. However there was a lot of froth on the surface.

    3 days after adding the yeast, SG had gone down to 1023. But on the
    4th and 5th days it is still 1023. The temperature for all three of
    those readings has been 19.4. There is now very little of the froth
    left.

    It looks as if fermentation may have stopped. I gather this is
    described as "stuck fermentation".

    The instructions say to wait until 5-7 days, by which time SG should
    have dropped to "below 1014", so I'm not giving up until a week from
    adding the yeast, but it's looking as if there's a problem.

    Does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried to be so careful to
    sterilise the jug that I use for taking a sample, the measuring
    cylinder and the hygrometer - and then to rinse them thoroughly before
    come in contact with the beer. Likewise I sterilised and then rinsed
    the fermentation bin before adding the viscous malt and then the
    boiling/tap water. Could I have got some sterilising solution into the
    wort - could that have killed the yeast? Is it worth "rousing" the
    yeast by stirring to include any sediment on the bottom?

    Or am I worrying over nothing: is it too soon to panic?

    First, calibrate the hydrometer -- this is a guide.

    https://blog.eckraus.com/calibrate-homebrew-hydrometer

    The author describes his being off by 5 points. It's possible a faulty measurement is the only problem.

    If it is OK, was it malt extract or all grain? Extract usually ferments
    fully unless there is a yeast issue, all grain can have problems if the
    mash temperatures are off and never ferment to the predicted level..

    1023 is high but sometimes fermentation slows down a lot after a few days
    and lack of airlock activity, if you're using one, isn't always a sign that it's stopped.

    I would give it about another week and check again, just make sure to keep
    the temps about where they are.

    If you can, buy a fresh packet of the same yeast. Sometimes yeast in kits
    can get pretty old and not ferment well. You may not need it, so if you
    don't, store it in the freezer. If you can't get the same, try something neutral like Nottingham.

    If the gravity has barely budged or remained the same after the extra week, try adding the fresh yeast. If it has gone close to 1014 and measures
    stable over a few days, then it's done.

    Another option if the extra time hasn't helped is to sanitize a spoon and gently stir to minimize any air bubbles.

    Adding more yeast or rousing the existing yeast may take a week for any further fermentation to occur. Confirm with hydrometer measurements, don't just assume it has stopped.

    If you bottle, and the gravity doesn't drop, consider using less priming sugar, and be careful about bottle bombs which occur when there are a lot
    of unfermented sugars in a bottle. The broken glass and foaming can be kind
    of scary.
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  • From Bill O'Meally@omeallymd@geemail.com to rec.crafts.brewing on Mon Sep 14 20:39:08 2020
    From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.brewing

    On 2020-09-13 17:17:23 +0000, NY said:

    This is my first attempt at home brewing. I'm brewing cream stout from a kit (St Peters) which supplied the malt, yeast and hops.

    Welcome to the group (what's left of it!), and to a most rewarding, and sometime frustrating hobby!


    I made sure that the wort was below 25 deg C before I added the yeast and
    the hops (which meant waiting a few hours because the recommended amount of boiling water to tap water resulted in about 28 deg C).

    After adding yeast, SG was initially 1040 and temp was 24.5 deg C.

    After about 24 hours, fermentation had begun: I didn't see any CO2
    emerging from the water trap but maybe the lid of the fermentation bin doesn't fit too well. However there was a lot of froth on the surface.

    Describe your "bin" please.


    3 days after adding the yeast, SG had gone down to 1023. But on the 4th and 5th days it is still 1023. The temperature for all three of those readings has been 19.4. There is now very little of the froth left.

    Sounds about right, as far as the diminished activity....


    It looks as if fermentation may have stopped. I gather this is
    described as "stuck fermentation".

    The instructions say to wait until 5-7 days, by which time SG should have dropped to "below 1014", so I'm not giving up until a week from adding the yeast, but it's looking as if there's a problem.

    Maybe just give it more time. Check the SG every 2-3 days. If no
    change, yes, likely a stuck fermentation.



    Does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried to be so careful to sterilise the jug that I use for taking a sample, the measuring cylinder and the hygrometer - and then to rinse them thoroughly before come in contact with the beer. Likewise I sterilised and then rinsed the fermentation bin before adding the viscous malt and then the boiling/tap water. Could I have got
    some sterilising solution into the wort - could that have killed the yeast? Is it worth "rousing" the yeast by stirring to include any sediment on the bottom?

    What's the sterilizing solution you use? Whatever it is, I doubt it
    would kill the yeast, especially once you've seen a vigorous
    fermentation. You might want to consider repitching the yeast, if the
    strain is known. The ingredients in these kits can be rather vague.
    Did you buy the kit from a local homebrew store? Why not ask the
    proprietors, who are often an excellent source of knowledge.


    Or am I worrying over nothing: is it too soon to panic?


    Perhaps. Good luck!

    --
    Bill O'Meally

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  • From Joerg@news@analogconsultants.com to rec.crafts.brewing on Mon Sep 21 14:31:00 2020
    From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.brewing

    On 9/14/20 5:36 PM, Baloonon wrote:
    "NY" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote in news:rjlk7m$84k$1@dont-email.me:

    This is my first attempt at home brewing. I'm brewing cream stout from
    a kit (St Peters) which supplied the malt, yeast and hops.

    I made sure that the wort was below 25 deg C before I added the yeast
    and the hops (which meant waiting a few hours because the recommended
    amount of boiling water to tap water resulted in about 28 deg C).

    After adding yeast, SG was initially 1040 and temp was 24.5 deg C.

    After about 24 hours, fermentation had begun: I didn't see any CO2
    emerging from the water trap but maybe the lid of the fermentation bin
    doesn't fit too well. However there was a lot of froth on the surface.

    3 days after adding the yeast, SG had gone down to 1023. But on the
    4th and 5th days it is still 1023. The temperature for all three of
    those readings has been 19.4. There is now very little of the froth
    left.


    19.4C may be a bit on the cold side if a fermentation has become
    sluggish. Fermentis states up to 28C for US-05 yeast. If you used other
    yeast and have already thrown away the pouch you can look it up online.
    Most have a PDF specifications sheet.


    It looks as if fermentation may have stopped. I gather this is
    described as "stuck fermentation".

    The instructions say to wait until 5-7 days, by which time SG should
    have dropped to "below 1014", so I'm not giving up until a week from
    adding the yeast, but it's looking as if there's a problem.

    Does anyone have any suggestions? I've tried to be so careful to
    sterilise the jug that I use for taking a sample, the measuring
    cylinder and the hygrometer - and then to rinse them thoroughly before
    come in contact with the beer. Likewise I sterilised and then rinsed
    the fermentation bin before adding the viscous malt and then the
    boiling/tap water. Could I have got some sterilising solution into the
    wort - could that have killed the yeast? Is it worth "rousing" the
    yeast by stirring to include any sediment on the bottom?

    Or am I worrying over nothing: is it too soon to panic?

    First, calibrate the hydrometer -- this is a guide.

    https://blog.eckraus.com/calibrate-homebrew-hydrometer

    The author describes his being off by 5 points. It's possible a faulty measurement is the only problem.


    The worst I've found was 3 points off, but 10-15 points like in NY's
    case seems high.


    If it is OK, was it malt extract or all grain? Extract usually ferments
    fully unless there is a yeast issue, all grain can have problems if the
    mash temperatures are off and never ferment to the predicted level..

    1023 is high but sometimes fermentation slows down a lot after a few days
    and lack of airlock activity, if you're using one, isn't always a sign that it's stopped.


    Could also be a leaky fermenter lid, then the airlock quits once the CO2 generation is low because CO2 hisses past the seal.


    I would give it about another week and check again, just make sure to keep the temps about where they are.

    If you can, buy a fresh packet of the same yeast. Sometimes yeast in kits
    can get pretty old and not ferment well. You may not need it, so if you don't, store it in the freezer. If you can't get the same, try something neutral like Nottingham.


    Sounds like very good advice.


    If the gravity has barely budged or remained the same after the extra week, try adding the fresh yeast. If it has gone close to 1014 and measures
    stable over a few days, then it's done.

    Another option if the extra time hasn't helped is to sanitize a spoon and gently stir to minimize any air bubbles.


    What I sometimes do is rock the fermenter, letting stuff slosh around in
    there a bit. A couple of minutes ought to do it.


    Adding more yeast or rousing the existing yeast may take a week for any further fermentation to occur. Confirm with hydrometer measurements, don't just assume it has stopped.

    If you bottle, and the gravity doesn't drop, consider using less priming sugar, and be careful about bottle bombs which occur when there are a lot
    of unfermented sugars in a bottle. The broken glass and foaming can be kind of scary.


    Oh yeah! I've got some horror stories there. At 1.023 FG I would not put
    any sugar in there and also leave a lot more air space in the neck of
    the bottles. Be careful, exploding bottles can cause great harm.

    --
    Regards, Joerg

    http://www.analogconsultants.com/
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