Think I've failed!

[johnnie]

Just tried my first BIAB on Saturday and it seemed to be fermenting away happily with loads of froth on top. Got back today and it seems to have stopped. The hydrometer reads 1011. No bubbles what so ever. It tastes quite nice but really watery. Thought I'd start of with something easy. The recipe I used was

350g crsytal malt
2kg LDM
50g East Kent Goldings
25g Prospect

There also seems to be loads of bits suspended in it which I presume is particles of the crystal malt. What should I do. Bin it and try again? I was just about to invest in a boiler but I'm gonna put that on hold if I can't get a simple recipe right.

 

[Hawks]

Sounds like it's stopped at about the right place. What was your OG?

1.011 is about right though to finish though, I'll guess you used S04, that can drop it very quickly.

If I were you I'd leave it alone for another 10 days, then keg or bottle it. It may drop another point or two. The flavours will certainly change though, the yeast will clear up after it's hard work and anything suspended in there will head for the bottom and settle out.

I'd certainly not worry, sounds like you have beer :thumb:

 

[Ceejay]

FG sounds bang on - most beers will get stop at around 1010 or 1011, depending on OG, of course and the yeast head subsides naturally so no worries on the fermentation front.

What was your OG and desired brewlength?

 

[Wendy1971]

It is finished take a hydrometer reading and if it stays at 1.011 or near for a couple of days you can go ahead and bottle etc

 

[Aleman]

The hydrometer reads 1011. No bubbles what so ever.

Thats Finished

It tastes quite nice but really watery. Thought I'd start of with something easy. The recipe I used was

350g crsytal malt
2kg LDM
50g East Kent Goldings
25g Prospect

Well with only 2Kg of malt extract in what I am assuming is 23L it is likely to be watery, but this bit worries me

I was just about to invest in a boiler but I'm gonna put that on hold if I can't get a simple recipe right.

I'm assuming that you didn't boil the hops and extract, as that is what it seems to imply . . . . In that case you didn't extract any bitterness from the hops.

There also seems to be loads of bits suspended in it which I presume is particles of the crystal malt. What should I do. Bin it and try again?

Give us a proper method please . . . Tell us what you did as I suspect that you actually did an extract brew and not a BIAB which is all grain. . . I'd give it a few more days and then rack it to a keg and bottle.

 

[johnnie]

If a boil in the bag uses all grain, then i must have done an extract
As for the method:
I used a large stockpot to boil.
Boiled 6L water and steeped malt for 30 mins in a muslin bag (hence my confusion with boil in the bag). Tried to keep it between 65-70 degrees.
Dissolved malt extract and added 15g progress and 20g goldings.
Boiled for 30 mins.
Added 10g progress and 15g goldings and boiled for another 30 mins.
Added 15g goldings 2 mins from the end.
Cooled in an ice bath, poured into fermenting bin and topped up to 21L.

Does this sound OK? I just didn't expect it to finish in 2 days.

 

[johnnie]

Sorry forgot to mention the O.G. should have been 1035-1038,
my hydormeter read 1033.
The F.G. should be 1008-1012.
So maybe that makes it about right.

 

[Aleman]

A low gravity beer can ferment out really quickly . . . I had one finish in 36 hours, and one of the hardest styles to brew is a low gravity full of flavour beer. . .. give it a few more days in the FV and then keg/bottle it

 

[johnnie]

Thanks for your help. I'll bottle in a few days and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[oz11]

If a boil in the bag uses all grain, then i must have done an extract
.

Just a tip for your terminology, BIAB is generally accepted as meaning "brew in a bag", where the mash is carried out in a bag in the boiler or kettle, so yes, you have done an extract brew :)

Hope it turns out well!