How am I (accidentally) making low alcohol beer?

[foxy]

I have just made a low alcohol one, for reason I don't understand it died at 1020 (SG1041), left it an extra week in the FV, lifted temp a couple of degree (19 to 21) agitated it a bit. But no it had died at 1020. so by my reckoning 2.75 alc by volume. (st peters stout kit, supposed to brew down to about1012)

Bottled it up and 4 weeks on it is a lovely but very weak stout. Had 5 bottles of it last night, it went down well. I often wonder if weak beers are better as I can drink more.

I am starting to get a sneaking feeling that there are a lot of brewers not degassing their hydrometer samples before reading. Reading of so many stuck ferments enforces that feeling, I think it could be possibly be not poor attenuation but gas in the samples being taken.

 

[Hopperty]

I am starting to get a sneaking feeling that there are a lot of brewers not degassing their hydrometer samples before reading. Reading of so many stuck ferments enforces that feeling, I think it could be possibly be not poor attenuation but gas in the samples being taken.

always give it a good shake out, and unexpected readings double and treble checked. Just checked one I am drinking tonight (4 or 5 weeks in bottle) and still 1020. And the fact it is not having the usual effect also confirms it is seriously lacking in alcohol. Still a lovely drink though.