Barley wine fermentation

[brewface]

I put on a barley wine 3 days ago and tho it was close to its use by date i chanced the yeast, pressure has builds up in the fermenter then the lid goes flat then it will build up again and go flat again, there is no leak so should i just pitch more yeast on top at this stage?

 

[graysalchemy]

There is obviously a leak. As long as the beer is fermenting ie it has bubbles rising it will be ok. It may take a while to ferment out though being a barley wine.

 

[brewface]

in fairness there is 100% not a leak, i use youngs fermenters and have changed lids etc and the pressure only builds after i give it a good shake up and then falls away, no airlock bubbles or constant pressure

 

[graysalchemy]

Did you take an OG or subsequent readings?

 

[brewface]

i should haven taken one of course but i dont take og reading unless i am doing a partial or all grain

 

[graysalchemy]

Do you know whether or not you have had any fermentation, whats the reading now?

 

[brewface]

good point i should take a hydrometer reading now and in a day or 2, my only issue is if there is no activity at this stage and if i leave it any longer then it will turn bad

 

[graysalchemy]

Does the kit say what the og should have been or what the expected ABV is. If it was meant to be 1070 and has dropped to 1040 then it has obviously started to ferment. Have you tried rousing it, ie gently stirring the bottom to get things going again?

 

[brewface]

kit has no reading with it but i have stirred it to try get it going..that is when i get pressure but then pressure goes a few hours later, i'll give it another day and might pitch more if its still the same, can't do that much harm

 

[graysalchemy]

HAve you had any luck with it?

 

[tomkandy]

If this is extract, you can calculate the OG based on how much you put in. 3kg in 3 gallons will have been 1.066 OG.

 

[brewface]

yeah i had to pitch new yeast in the end, something wasn't right with it and about 5 hours after pitching i have a lot of activity
Lets hope the 4 or 5 days with no activity didn't do it any harm!

 

[graysalchemy]

I would have thought it will be fine :thumb: