Another stopped Brew?

[AdznKi]

Hi Guys, Happy New Year to you all!!!

I've currently got a Better Brew Export Lager in the FV. It has been in since 18/12/15 and the instructions state that it should be in the FV for ten days, at which point the SG should be 1008 or less. The ten days where up on the 28/12/15 (obviously), which was last Monday. However, the SG is only at 1012.

Now, the brew has been kept at a constant 20-22C and there is still pressure in the FV (bulging lid) although i can see no other signs of continuing fermentation (no bubbling air lock nor rising tiny bubbles in the brew).

What should I do, just bottle anyway or leave it even longer or re-pitch more yeast, if so what yeast???

All advice appreciated to help out this newbie!!! Thanks again.

 

[Steved53]

Try raising the temp to 24 degrees for a week and retest.

 

[wildmanbrew]

Leave it for a few more days and measure again. It wont hurt, infact itll do go as after fermentation the yeast metabolise a chemical called diacetyl which occurs in fermentation

 

[duncans]

Never brewed a lager myself, but 1012 doesn't sound unreasonable. It might taste a little sweeter than planned.

Consider leaving it for a day or so and take a SG reading again and have a taste. If your SG reading is the same then your fermentation is finished and you can bottle it. If it tastes OK and not too sweet, then it is worth bottling :)

 

[Sandimas]

Lagers usually drop a bit lower than ales but, given the fermenting temps, sounds like it was a lager kit with an ale yeast, rather than a true low-temp lager yeast. So 1012 isn't a bad FG, but give it a bit longer as recommended, it won't hurt it and it may drop a bit more. The longer you give it, the clearer the lager and less sedement in the bottles - I usually leave mine a good 3 weeks in total.

 

[AdznKi]

thanks for all the replies, appreciated!

 

[AdznKi]

darrellm, you mean a good 3 weeks in the FV for a lager kit?

 

[Sandimas]

Yes, 3 weeks for your lager. If it was a true lager yeast, fermenting at a low temp (12C) I'd say even longer, but 3 weeks should be fine as it sounds like it's almost finished.

 

[Motorhomebrew]

thanks for all the replies, appreciated!

Alright buddy. All I brew is lagers and wine and the odd cider but for what its worth iv always swapped the yeast out of the lager kits as iv yet to come across a kit that you can be 100% sure is only using a true lager yeast. So I always swap it for a saflager S23 or a brewfarm lager yeast. And brew to the temps needed. I.e somewhere between 9c and 12c. That way I always get a great tasting beer with so far no stuck fermentations

 

[AdznKi]

Alright buddy. All I brew is lagers and wine and the odd cider but for what its worth iv always swapped the yeast out of the lager kits as iv yet to come across a kit that you can be 100% sure is only using a true lager yeast. So I always swap it for a saflager S23 or a brewfarm lager yeast. And brew to the temps needed. I.e somewhere between 9c and 12c. That way I always get a great tasting beer with so far no stuck fermentations

Alright Rob, thanks for the advice :thumb: Which lager kits would you recommend???

Ok I will change the yeast pack in future. Another newbie question now... how do you keep the temperatures down between 9c - 12c?

 

[Notlaw]

how do you keep the temperatures down between 9c - 12c?

Living in the North is a good start lol

 

[Motorhomebrew]

Well to be really sure what temp your brewing at get yourself a fridge and turn it into a brew fridge with wiring up a STC1000. And in terms of good lager kits their all pretty good. Grab one and brew per instructions and then next time try dry hopping and switching sugar or dextrose for light spray malt