Safale S-04

[simonk68]

Hi New to forum, just brewed my first porter and I think I may have made a mistake by using S-04, I was aiming for a high alcohol 8% beer, had a starting SG of 1.078 which was pretty much spot on to what I was aiming for, I was looking for final SG of 1.017. Had a mash temp of about 66degC. It fermented like the clappers for one day then has just about stopped, checked SG and it is 1.034, still decent at about 5.9% but not what I was after, I have tried giving it a good stir but dosnt seem to have re started it. Do I just leave it or can I throw in another packet of yeast, I have a spare packet of S-05. its a 15 litre batch. used to using S-05 which always ferments out fully. Any suggestions? pointers?

 

[clibit]

I would be expecting you to get down to 1020 ish with S04. Its pretty reliable I think so not sure what has happened. How long has it been fermenting?

 

[simonk68]

I would be expecting you to get down to 1020 ish with S04. Its pretty reliable I think so not sure what has happened. How long has it been fermenting?

Pitched it Monday, so 4 days, Tuesday was going like the clappers, now just real tiny bubbles, not making any impact on bubble trap, am I just being impatient?

 

[Spapro]

Pitched it Monday, so 4 days, Tuesday was going like the clappers, now just real tiny bubbles, not making any impact on bubble trap, am I just being impatient?

Yes, 4 days isn't long. Leave another week and test with hydrometer again.

Good luck with it, sure it will be good.

 

[clibit]

Beer doesn't stop fermenting when the initial rapid stage dies down. 1078 to 1034 in 4 days is quite a chunk. It will likely get down to 1025 ish over the next week. It will want at least 2 weeks in the FV, 3 would be better IMO. What temperature is it at. If you can keep it at about 20C that would be good.

 

[simonk68]

Yes, 4 days isn't long. Leave another week and test with hydrometer again.

Good luck with it, sure it will be good.

ok, cheers,

 

[Covrich]

Never used 04 but it is a quick starter.. I would def leave this 3 weeks.. I did one that came out 8% I left 3 weeks and even then it needed a good 6+ weeks bottled before it started tasting smoother.

 

[simonk68]

Beer doesn't stop fermenting when the initial rapid stage dies down. 1078 to 1034 in 4 days is quite a chunk. It will likely get down to 1025 ish over the next week. It will want at least 2 weeks in the FV, 3 would be better IMO. What temperature is it at. If you can keep it at about 20C that would be good.

its around 20degC, I will just have to try to be a bit more patient, thanks

 

[rodabod]

I've commented on this recently. Mine went like the clappers and has been going very slowly since. I have a theory that S-04 is very slow to consume complex sugars. If this is true, then it could be that it's more likely to cause bottle-bombs with beers containing lots of complex sugars and not fully matured before bottling....