First Coopers stout. Fermantation stopped short.

[jamesymurray]

Hi All,

I currently have my first Coopers Stout in the FV.
Made as follows:

Half Campden tablet in the water
3/4 tin of treacle
1kg Extra dark DME
Made up to 21 litres.
Pitched the yeast at 24 degrees c, using an immersion heater in the FV thermostatically set at 24. Although my stick on thermometer on the side of the FV moves around between 22-24 depending on the ambient temp of the room.

I had an OG of 1041 (lowest reading so possibly a little higher).
This was 5 days ago (last Tuesday evening 11th).

First night saw very little activity, with the next 4 nights showing quite a lot of gas bubbling away in the airlock.

Since last night, activity has slowed down to almost nothing, with a consistend SG of 1010 since yesterday morning (Friday 14th).

There was about 2 inches of krausen at the peak of activity, but this has completely gone now. I was expecting to see the top blow off!

Also, considering it was brewed short with added treacle, I was expecting a FG to be much lower.

Does it sound like it really has fermented out, or have things just gone dormant?

I don't want to keg it up too early/

Thanks in advance.

 

[jamesymurray]

My first idea was to give it a gentle stir, in case there is still some syrupy goodness at the bottom of the FV.

Looking at the 'Stuck Fermentation' sticky post, it does suggest trying to give it a very light stir. in this case, would you avoid stirring up the sludge at the bottom, or is that what you need to stir up?

 

[MyQul]

The FG sounds about right it's the OG with the treacle and brewing short I would have expected a bit higher

 

[proost]

I would say its probably finished but to be sure, you want to get the same three FG readings over three days. My Coopers Stout with treacle finishes about the same.

:

 

[jamesymurray]

What does your ABV work out at Proost?

 

[Sandimas]

Also, considering it was brewed short with added treacle, I was expecting a FG to be much lower.

Sounds like it's done to me. Brewing short and adding more fermentables will increase the OG, not decrease the FG - I've done 60 brews and never seen a FG lower than 1010 for beer (cider and wine go lower). It's finished so quick because your temp was a little high, same happened to me when I put a beer on during that tropical heat in Sept, was done in 5 days compared to the usual 10-14.

 

[jamesymurray]

Thanks for the replies. If hydrometer reads the same tomorrow I'll bottle/barrel it.
Got 12 bottles and the rest in the keg. Planning to prime with dark muscovado sugar

 

[proost]

My SG was 1.050 and the FG was 1.011, brewed short to 20L. Works out about 5.1%. Fermented at 20c for 10 days. Just used 1Kg Coopers Brew Enhancer 2, 450g Black Treacle, primed 1x Coopers carb drops per bottle. I have done this brew loads of times and it is pretty foolproof and always comes out really drinkable.

Anyway I'm sure your one will be the same.

Good luck and happy brewing!