getting into the hobby?

[rmuk82]

thats great, whats the best way to tell that fermenting has completed okay? ten days will be tommorow, should i use the hydrometer from then and if its the same on two consecutive days bottle it? thanks

 

[graysalchemy]

You need to use a hydrometer to get three readings the same on 3 consecutive days. Once you have that it has finished, then you need to put somewhere cool to settle and clear before bottling.

 

[rmuk82]

thats great thanks very much!

 

[rmuk82]

just taken first reading after about 9 days and it is at 1020 but looks slightly cloudy is that normal??

 

[jonnymorris]

Not unusual. When it's finished fermenting put it somewhere cool as GA suggests and it'll clear up a treat.

 

[rmuk82]

thanks! is the reading of 1020 okay to for lager?

 

[pittsy]

still too high prob looking at 1012/1016 maybe lower

 

[rmuk82]

should this change over the next few days? its been 10 days today since i started it?

 

[pittsy]

sterilize your mixing spoon and gently stir mixing all the yeast and sediment around and avoid splashing the brew then leave it 2 to 3 days

 

[graysalchemy]

I would say your ferment has stuck

+1 for Pittsy's advice :thumb:

 

[rmuk82]

thanks ill give that ago, what causes that to happen?

 

[rmuk82]

just stirred it quite alot of sediment on the bottom looks like bits floating now?

 

[pittsy]

the yeast has gone to sleep , sometimes the c02 can make em sleepy and a stir wakes em up and by lifting the lid some c02 clears away helping the yeast that way too , alls normal/fine with bits etc

 

[rmuk82]

thats great thanks was a bit worried about the temperature its a little cool in here on a night so been leaving heating on, think i may need a heat belt perhaps for future brews?

 

[TRXnMe]

thats great thanks was a bit worried about the temperature its a little cool in here on a night so been leaving heating on, think i may need a heat belt perhaps for future brews?

If you get something to heat the fermenting vat try and make sure it's tempertature control on it, my heating plate doesn't have any external heat control and keeps my brews at 25 to 26 degrees which is a bit close to fusal alchohol territory (from what little I'vev read this varies yeast to yeast and can be lower) so it only goes on for an hour or two on a chilly evening now.

 

[rmuk82]

hi just took another reading today and it seems to be at 1017? does that sound okay? or should it be left longer? thanks

 

[TRXnMe]

Test it again tomorrow, if it's still 1017 then it's done

 

[rmuk82]

well i bottled it about 3 weeks ago now and tried tasting it but it tastes watery? and doesnt have much fizz to it? any ideas?

 

[Barticus]

well i bottled it about 3 weeks ago now and tried tasting it but it tastes watery? and doesnt have much fizz to it? any ideas?

How did you prime it and have you warm and cold conditioned it?

 

[rmuk82]

it was left for about 3 weeks initially then left it in a cupboard once bottled for two weeks then left in a cold place for about a week ?