First Brew

[DiscoStu]

Evening All,

First time brewer here,

Cut a long story short.. Got a coopers DIY kit with the stout beer!..

All going fine until pouring the water in and forgot the spigot was open!.. Well lost a couple of litres but not much!.. I took an Og reading was 1030/1040 (sorry can't remember).

9 days on and I have done 2 readings and the 1st one was 1014 and the second one was 1015, tried again and came out at 1014 again.. Is it ok to bottle??.. I just don't want exploding bottles!.. Just decorated my house!!... :lol:

Sorry for going on.

 

[TRXnMe]

I'd leave it for 14 days, that way the yeast can clean up the odd bits left behind during the early fermentation phase and the final beer will taste better :)

a final gravity of 1014 is slightly high in my experience, but as I've only ever done bitters and ales it's quite possibly bang on for a stout, which has more 'body' so will probably have a higher level of unfermentables in the original wort :)

 

[DiscoStu]

Thanks TRXnMe,

Will prob leave it there for two weeks and then and then take another 2 readings!.. The temp has been 24c all the way through!..

I just want it to be perfect 1st time round!.

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome.

 

[Rwilts]

Hi, I leave everything 14 days before taking any action. Recently my coopers irish stout finished at 1010. So I think you have a little way to go over the next few days.

 

[evanvine]

First time brewer here

Well done on taking the plunge.
Don't get concerned, don't panic, just let it do it's own thing.
The instructions on kits are normally pretty good.
Welcome to the Forum. :thumb:

 

[TRXnMe]

Hi, I leave everything 14 days before taking any action. Recently my coopers irish stout finished at 1010. So I think you have a little way to go over the next few days.

Based on that feedback, if it continues to 'stick' at 1014 it might be worth giving it a gentle stir, use a sanitised spoon for this. It's known to restart fermentation in somme brews.

It's also worth practicing with the hydrometer, took me quite a long time to get to be good at it and get accurate readings.

I found water with sugar added was a good media for test readings, take a known volume and slowly add sugar, I think it's 1 point on the hydro for 100 grammes in a litre, but there is a thread on here with the correct values (I used it to calibrate my eyeball on my hydrometer), I'll take a look and post a linky if I find it.

 

[DiscoStu]

Many thanks for all your welcomes!..

It's all just very fustration, Just want to bottle it and try it!. Still must make sure it's all fine before all of that!..

So shall I give it a gentle wirl with the spoon and then wait a couple more days??

Cheers for all your help

 

[TRXnMe]

If you're really eager then don't forget the QC is an important part of brewing take a sample with a turkey baster, check the gravity and then sup the sample

Not the best way to practice reading a hydrometer though as the lines get blurry eventually :)

 

[Northern Brewer]

I've heard that some hydrometers have questionable accuracy so I'd check it in water and against another if you can

 

[DiscoStu]

Think what I might do is what till Saturday and then take a Reading and see how it goes!. What shall I do if it's still stuck at 1014??.. Bottle it or stir it then??..

Sorry for all the questions

Just I have never done this before!!

 

[TRXnMe]

If it's definitely stuck at 1014 then give it a stir, also read the stuck brew thread and see if any of the tips in that tread help.

The problem with bottling a stuck brew is if it restarts once you prime it you may end up with bottle bombs

 

[Wendy1971]

hio and welcome to the forum and well done on your first brew :thumb:

 

[DiscoStu]

Many Thanks wendy1971

Been digging around and found this

http://www.coopers.com.au/the-brewers-g ... uter-stout

It says final FG will be 1014!!!

 

[RobWalker]

It's usually pretty safe to say that with regular beer, if there's been a vigourous fermentation and it's been over for 4 days, it's probably done.

You always wanna leave a few days for the yeast to clean up and settle out a bit more. FG depends on a large variety of factors and your yeast will perform differently at different temperatures. I assume you used 1kg sugar too, whereas that uses 1kg brew enhancer, which would leave a higher FG because there's more non fermentable sugar.

It's a great pint btw, enjoy it! Mine is currently like soup in the conservatory, so gotta wait for cooler months lol

 

[DiscoStu]

Hi RobWalker

Yes, nothing happened for the 1st 24hrs and then whoosh.. In a couple of days it calmed down!.

I used Brew Enhancer 1or 2 can't remember and is at a consitant 24c.

Think I'll wait till sat, that will be 2 weeks in the FV and if it still says 1014, think I'll bottle it!.. Just don't want bottle bombs!!

 

[DiscoStu]

Well little update!...

Just done another reading!. And it's still 1014, I think the last time I took a reading was last Monday and it was also 1014!..

Should I assume that it's stopped fermenting??

 

[DiscoStu]

Very sorry but I have just tried it again without all the bubbles around the tube and it's 1012 now!..

 

[PD]

quote...

I think the last time I took a reading was last Monday

Try and have a note book handy for your brewing. Make a note of all days you do something and the readings obtained for each brew. If you want to progress and get better beers its essential you learn and understand what why your doing a thing you will easily see your mistakes and be able to correct them next time.

 

[DiscoStu]

Yes very true, so many mistakes I have made with this brew that I will rectify with the next brew