Stuck or not?

[kentmark]

Not sure if my brew is stuck or not. It's currently at 1.014, (1.018 previous couple of days). So it is dropping albeit slowly. It's had 9 days in the FV (kit said a week). Instructions state it should get down to about 1.005. When it started it got a really thick frothy head, nice and quickly, however this has now gone. There seem to be bubbles still rising.

Should I expect to see a head all the way through fermenting? Or does this disipate part way through? I don't mind giving it time, more thinking that if I need to take action then lets crack on!


Cheers guys

 

[Sandimas]

Sounds like it's pretty much done to me.

The standard advice is to take hydrometer readings over 2 or 3 days and, if they're the same, it's done. Most kits I've done have only got down to the 1.014-12 range with a target of 1.010 (apart from a cider that went right down to 1.000), just wondering what kit is is with a target of 1.005? I'd be tempted to take another reading later today then keg it. :

 

[windymiller]

If there are still bubbles rising, there must be something still going on. It may well take longer than the kit says if the temperature is lower.

When you can see no bubbles rising, then its in with a better chance of being done.

 

[Mr BR]

if its dropped from 1018 to1014 in the past couple of days it is not stuck but still fermenting away nicely ,just because the froth or krausen has disappeared means nothing its all about the hydrometer readings ,so keep testing and when you get 2 readings the same a couple of days apart then it has finished fermenting and is ready to keg/bottle, its not unuasual to leave it to ferment for 2weeks, be patient i know its hard but it will give you a better beer in the end , the instructions are more guidelines rather than rigid instructions and the minimum you want to leave it in my opinion is 10-14 days , if your real keen after say 7 days transfer it to a 2nd FV then leave it another week, hope this helps and good luck, remember, patience, patience ,patience . :thumb:

 

[kentmark]

Cheers guys. Patience not a problem, have still got a couple of bottles from my last brew to enjoy!

Wasn't sure if the lack of head was something to be worried about, but if that's not the whole story then cool! I checked the FV a couple of hours after taking todays hydrometer reading, the lid had bulged up again with pressure again, so looks like there is life in the old girl yet!