Sticking ferments

[andymacintyre]

Hi,
I seem to get a lot of fermentations that stick at around 1020-1018.
I have been doing kits thus far but use good quality SF04 yeast and control fermentation temperature properly at 19c with a thermostat but still the majority of my brews never drop to the desired FG.

Is there possibly something I am doing wrong? - I make the kits up according to the instructions, use a decent yeast, and control fermentation temperature. Recent kits that have all stuck are woodfordes wherry, john bull irish stout & brewers choice IPA.

Rousing the yeast or lobbing new yeast in does not always work.

What actually causes a stuck ferment and could it be something I am doing wrong or is this normal?

I am about to switch to AG - are stuck ferments more of a kit beer problem or can I expect the same thing with my AG brews?

Cheers
Andy

 

[andymacintyre]

I'd ad that my most recent on (brewers choice IPA) went off like a rocket with a vigourous fermentation starting with a few hours but stopped at 1020 after 3 days and now wont move further.

 

[Muddydisco]

Have you tried any Yeast Vit or nutrients? It worked for mine when I had the same problems as you, they now all carry on past 1.020 :party:
Also I have heard it can something to do with water quality as well?
But I need to start looking into mine more

 

[andymacintyre]

Have not tried yeast nutrient (in beer) - I will try lobbing some into the IPA and give it a rousing and see if that gets it going again...
I think my water quality is pretty good - pure H2O.

 

[Aleman]

Lack of aeration at teh start of fermentation can be a major cause of stuck ferments. . . . .SO4 has been known to be particularly susceptible to this . . . . whisk in a cordless drill for 5 minutes tends to do a good job. . . . . alternatively whisk it by hand until you had feel your arm is going to drop off . . . then continue for another 5 minutes. . . . plus with cheaper kits a good dose of yeast nutrient

 

[andymacintyre]

I have generally thought I have done a good job of aeration by jugging in my top-up liquor from a great height. This creates masses of foam on the top of the FV too and certainly appears to be aerated really well. Maybe I could do more though.

I have just chucked in 5tsp of yeast nutrient, dissolved in some water, and given a good rousing so will see if that gets it going again...

 

[Vossy1]

Using a plaster paddle with a drill is great for aeration, and it doesn't create masses of foam.
It's also a very cheap option

 

[Wez]

Using a plaster paddle with a drill is great for aeration, and it doesn't create masses of foam.
It's also a very cheap option

I've looked at those V, anything to be wary of regards material it's made from? :?

 

[andymacintyre]

I wonder if my method of aeration has not been effective then - it creates loads of foam though....!

 

[andymacintyre]

Well I roused and lobbed in yeast vit yesterday and bumped the temp up a couple of degrees to 21. Still stuck at 1020. Gonna chuck some more Sf04 in shortly. If that fails to move it, what should I try next???!
Cheers!