Kit FG

[Alan Clark]

I've got a Cooper's stout kit on the go, I started it on Friday (so 5 days ago). It started at an OG of 1037 and by yesterday it was 1012, I've got the same reading today, but that SG seems a little high (or to put it another way too sweet). Should a kit like this be finishing above 1010 or do I just leave it until next week to see if it falls further?

 

[Cussword]

I would leave it a while longer, that doesn't even take it past 4% :thumb:

 

[Alan Clark]

Thanks for that, I leave it for a few days and see what happens. As the hole in the fermenter lid isn't big enough for an air trap I can't even look for bubbles (I know the snap on lids aren't gas tight anyway), at the moment I've put a piece of masking tape over the hole to stop fly ingress.

 

[Screwy]

FG (attenuation) depends upon many things: Firstly the fermentability of the extract, addition of highly fermentable or unfermentable sugars, attenuation property of the yeast strain, condition/health of the yeast and size of the pitch. Also fermentation management, wort aeration and stability of fermentation temperature.

Liquid malt extract can have a fermentability as low as 60%, adding simple sugars can improve overall fermentability of the wort.

Attenuation = 100 % * (starting extract - current extract) / (starting extract)

Given the OG and current gravity your yeast has achieved 67.5% attenuation. Not knowing the makeup of your wort, this may well be the limit of attenuation for the ingredients used. Adding Brew Enhansers containing dextrine can further reduce fermentability of extract wort.

Hope this helps,

Screwy

 

[Alan Clark]

Well, for a thrid day it has sat at 1012.

The wort was made up of the contents of the can and 1kg of extra dark spray malt.

I tried giving it a good stir round yesterday, so today added a bit more yeast, I guess I should go and put some nutrient in to it as well.

 

[aneray]

Hi there Alan

Don't worry too much about the final FG when you are using spraymalt. You will find that not all the sugars will have fermented compared to using 'normal' sugar. Leave it another three or four days and take another hydrometer reading. If its still the same it will be ready to keg or bottle.

You have done the right thing by adding extra dark spraymalt to your kit :thumb: . When ready to drink it will be an absolute beauty.

If you like the taste, maybe next time try adding black treacle or licorice root, it really does improve it :whistle: .


If you fancy a stronger stout, try this one

viewtopic.php?t=6446

Cheers Neil

 

[Alan Clark]

I was thinking of charging the barrel with some treacle in place / addition to the usual charging sugar having read some other threads about treacle.