Weird stuck / restarting fermentation

[leojez]

Hi,

I've been using my new SS Brewtech beer bucket with FTSs Temp Control for the last couple of brews and overall I'm very happy with it.

One weird thing that has happened on both fermentations in it is that fermentation activity stopped at around 10 points from target gravity. Bubbling stopped and repeated hydrometer readings confirmed this. Both kits had hops for dry hoping and on both occasions, after adding the dry hops fermentation took off again and fully fermented down to the correct gravity.

I'm concerned however as not all my kits have hops for dry hopping which I seem to need to get the fermentation to complete.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon and if there is something I can do to fix it? On my last brew I tried giving the FV a bit of a swirl to see if this would get it going again, but didn't work.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Slid]

Hi,

I've been using my new SS Brewtech beer bucket with FTSs Temp Control for the last couple of brews and overall I'm very happy with it.

One weird thing that has happened on both fermentations in it is that fermentation activity stopped at around 10 points from target gravity. Bubbling stopped and repeated hydrometer readings confirmed this. Both kits had hops for dry hoping and on both occasions, after adding the dry hops fermentation took off again and fully fermented down to the correct gravity.

I'm concerned however as not all my kits have hops for dry hopping which I seem to need to get the fermentation to complete.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon and if there is something I can do to fix it? On my last brew I tried giving the FV a bit of a swirl to see if this would get it going again, but didn't work.

Thanks in advance!

Hi

I think the best way to answer the question is to point you in the direction of this piece of wisdom regarding the fermentation process. It does not so much start and stop as go through a number of overlapping phases as per the graph in the attached link.

http://howtobrew.com/book/section-1/fermentation/re-defining-fermentation

 

[MyQul]

What yeast did you use. Some yeasts are notorious for this. Some are even kind of designed to do it (English strains) as it allows you to control the attenuation by rousing if you want more attenuation or just leaving it if not

 

[leojez]

What yeast did you use. Some yeasts are notorious for this. Some are even kind of designed to do it (English strains) as it allows you to control the attenuation by rousing if you want more attenuation or just leaving it if not

Not really sure as both are in the kits and don't say what the yeasts are other than "Ale yeast" and "Best Bitter yeast". I've never had this happen with kits before. One is a festival kit and the other a youngs, so good quality.

 

[MyQul]

I didn't notice the bit about dry hopping (that'll teach me for skim reading). I've read about the fermentation getting going after dry hopping from a number of forumites in the past. What I guess is happening is the hops disturb the yeast cake on the bottom of the FV and get things going again (yeast can only really do their work when in suspension).

What you can do is rouse the yeast. Get a sanitised spoon (or something else sanitised that reaches the bottom of the FV) and very gently stir the wort giving the bottom of the FV a good scrape. I often do this, in fact I did it this morning with a lite steam beer/pseudo lager

 

[TartanSpecial]

I've got the SS chronical and found it to be 100% reliable on fermentations going to completion and expected end point. I wonder if you should try using non kit yeast for the next few brews...like the Wilko Gervin yeast which is inexpensive and reliable.

 

[MyQul]

I definatley agree with tartan special. Use wilko gervin yeast and make sure you re-hydrate it and you shouldnt have a problem