"I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!"

[Robsparky99]

How robust is the Wilko Gervin yeast? Started off a Bitter kit ferment just before the weather got bad and the brew fridge(which is in the cold garage) got up to 19+C, but my little 45W heater is struggling and the brew has dropped to less than 15C.

I'm thinking i'll wait it out and let it ferment a little longer 3 weeks?

Can't bring it insde the house as 1. Wife doesn't want it and mainly 2. Toddler who will whip the lid off and probably jump in!

 

[Clint]

I have used it at 14 for a pseudo lager but pitched 2 pkts. ..Wonder why your fridge/heater combo won't keep it warm....mine is the same and does fine..Has fermentation started? If it has it should generate some heat.

 

[nigelnorris]

I'd imagine that it'll just keep stopping and starting as the temperature ups and downs, so it will take longer, but that's all. Most yeast can survive cold crashing down to 0C without issue.

 

[MyQul]

Notty is pretty hard core. It can ferment down to 14C (and I suspect lower if done gently) and I've had it up to about 26C/27C during the summer no, problem. It also ferments very quickly, so depending on how long you've had it fermenting it might even be down to FG and you can leave it just to clean up and drop out.
Yeast dont generally like temp fluctuation which can cause it to drop out/stall and also cause off flavors. If I was in your situation, after 5-7 days I'd take a gravity reading. If it's hit FG, fine. I'd leave it for another week (or for however long you usually like to leave your beers in the FV). If it hasnt reached FG I'd give it a gentle rouse with a sanitised long spoon/mash paddle/etc to make sure the cold hasnt caused the yeast to drop out

 

[Robsparky99]

OG: 1036

Temperature started at 16.5c (pitched cool) went up to 19.9c for first 48 hours then slowly went down to 14.9c.

Checked today (day 11)
FG: 1011, thinking I need it down to something like 1005ish.

I have swirled round with a spoon, will leave it another 3/4 days and see what happens. It’s warming up outside as well.

 

[Clint]

I'd say it's done at 1011....

 

[Norfolk79]

Give it a couple of days, if it’s still 1.011 it’s good to go. That’s not an unusually high FG.

 

[Robsparky99]

Update - Transferred the brew to another FV (Prefer the Coopers bucket to ferment and the generic bucket to bottle from), chilled it to 10C to drop any further yeast out and I'll bottle it in a few days time.

Took another reading FG = 1009.

ABV = 4.1% ish

So I'm pretty inpressed with the Wilko Gervin (Notty) so far, hoping the taste will be ok.

Bugger .....Writing this has made me remember that I've forgotten to dry hop...... do that tonight Rob.....