Recent content by Shaun-p

My apologies for asking for help.

I don't think the hydrometer is the problem. My first two real ale kits the OG did go down (or whatever). I think the issue with the ipas is that they never really started fermenting. Not many bubbles on the beer or the airlock. Of course everyone here says not to bother about the airlock.

Yes, the instructions said add pure liquid malt extract or sugar and I went for the extract.

I'm literally just following the instructions on the box.

Two weeks in. I take readings every two days. It went down to 1.020 after a couple of days and hasn't moved since.

I'll give it a go

I was rather hoping homebrew would be as simple as the instructions on the box. The instructions seems to be on the minimal/ optimistic side, to say the least. I have a couple of proper brewing books from charity shops but I'm loathed to try that if the simple ones don't work. Wdym proper...

Yes, I used bottles water.

It has a heater pad set to about 20. It is indoors with a blanket over it. It's not the warmest room but that's what the pad is for. The pad has a probe which is attached halfway up the vessel.

A hydrometer

A hydrometer

I did the yeast that came with the kit when I started it. After a week with no movement, I sent off for a Verdant IPA yeast and still nothing. The heater pad has a probe which is stuck to the side of my vessel.

see edits above

The gravity hangs around 1.020? It should go down to 1.006. I follow the instructions on the box and google when things don't work. I don't honestly know what part isn't working and what more I could do to remedy it. It is on a thermostat-controlled heating pad, I rehydrated the yeast, it...

It was a Mangrove Jacks Brewers Series 40 Pint Pale Ale and recommended using Mangrove Jacks 1.5kg Pure Liquid Malt Extract - Light or sugar. I went for the extract.