fearing a stuck brew

[wildmanbrew]

Hey folks.

Slightly worried about my wherry brew. Its been in the fv for 3 days and has been bubbling away merrily, just been to check on it and the bubbles have slowed right down and the krausen? Has disappeared. I took a gravity measurment and its at 1.025 does this sound like its going to be the infamous 1.020 stick?

If so i have some wilko Gervin yeast to repitch if nesesary

Cheers in advance steve

 

[rodabod]

Keep it warm (it's safe to do so now, so keep it around 20c without dropping much), and swirl the fermenter without lifting the lid.

 

[clibit]

Is there a name for the fear of a stuck brew?

We could have lagoraphobia for the fear of a delayed fermentation.

 

[terrym]

Hey folks.

Slightly worried about my wherry brew. Its been in the fv for 3 days and has been bubbling away merrily, just been to check on it and the bubbles have slowed right down and the krausen? Has disappeared. I took a gravity measurment and its at 1.025 does this sound like its going to be the infamous 1.020 stick?

If so i have some wilko Gervin yeast to repitch if nesesary

Cheers in advance steve

I'd hydrate the Gervin and then chuck it in now whilst there is still something reasonable left for the yeasties to chew on and sustain the fermentation.

 

[wildmanbrew]

Thanks ive added a full 11g pack of gervin rehydrated in about 200mls of warm water, there was a big release of gas from the wort when added it, i assume its just dissolved gas escaping.

 

[wheazy_joe]

Not sure why you think it is or could be stuck, to get to 1.025 in three days seems like decent progress to me (based on an original SG of 1.040+). I would say that bubbles slowing down and krausen dropping at this stage is to be expected.

 

[wildmanbrew]

Not sure why you think it is or could be stuck, to get to 1.025 in three days seems like decent progress to me (based on an original SG of 1.040+). I would say that bubbles slowing down and krausen dropping at this stage is to be expected.

Sg was 1.042. I think its paranoia on my part after reading about so many stuck brews. Im a first time brewer so anything out of the ordinary like slower bubbling sets in the feqr factor lol. Lesson learnt for next time though :)

 

[clibit]

Yeah tbh I agree, seems a bit hasty, acting out of fear! Muntofermophobia. :lol:

I can see both sides, adding more yeast won't do any harm and there isn't enough yeast in the initial pack anyway - I would be adding 11g of yeast at the start. It may have been unnecessary though, it's too early to know if it will stick. Then again, adding now may get the Gervin going and avoid a stuck ferment.

 

[wheazy_joe]

Understand your concern and having a stuck brew is a nightmare. I've had a bitter stuck at 1.020 for over two weeks now. Tried everything and just can't get it going again so have decided to bottle it this weekend. Just gonna add a bit less priming sugar and use plastic bottles just in case things kick off again, don't want bottle bombs!

 

[Cwrw666]

Guys, fermenting beer really is better just left to do it's job. Every time you lift the lid you're risking infection. Personally I leave my FV after pitching, check it the next day just to see if there's signs of life. Then leave it alone for 2 weeks. By then it'll look finished and be starting to clear. I check the SG - if it's less than 1015 that's ok. If it's 1020 then the fermentation is stuck and then you're justified in worrying.
But not 3 days after pitching...

 

[terrym]

Sg was 1.042. I think its paranoia on my part after reading about so many stuck brews. Im a first time brewer so anything out of the ordinary like slower bubbling sets in the feqr factor lol. Lesson learnt for next time though :)

I wouldn't worry about it. I still think you have done the right thing irrespective of whether the fermentation was going to be stuck or not.
The real lesson learned from the posts on here about stuck fermentations of Muntons kits is, as clibit has said, use 11g of yeast at the start.
My first Wherry using the kit yeast stuck, so I used 11g GV12 on the next and did not get any problems, and better still it was, in my opinion, a better pint as it turned out slightly drier.

 

[ManseMasher]

Muntofermophobia!! I've had a few munters in my time - scary beasts.......

 

[wildmanbrew]

Quick update. Down to 1.011 and still bubbling at the airlock :)