Wherry

[ryanshelton]

Hi all

Started my wherry kit a few weeks back but unfortunatly my heating packed up last tuesday night and got it fixed wednesday just gone. Its now been at 20 degrees or so for 48 hours and fermentation seems to have stopped and not started again :cry: can I add some yeast nutrient to the bucket or should I just leave it?

 

[EskiBrew]

Hang on, if you have been fermenting for a couple of weeks then fermentation should have already finished so leave it alone :thumb:
Well, better still take a specific gravity reading (have you got a hydrometer?) and then get on bottling it or kegging it

 

[ryanshelton]

Hang on, if you have been fermenting for a couple of weeks then fermentation should have already finished so leave it alone :thumb:
Well, better still take a specific gravity reading (have you got a hydrometer?) and then get on bottling it or kegging it

It was too cold for it to ferment last week(dropped to 4 degrees in there at 1 point) so technically only been fermenting a week or so. Will take a sg reading but just wanted others input first :)

 

[eggman]

After 7 days it was probably finished anway but you need to take a reading just to make sure it hasn't stuck :

 

[ryanshelton]

Just taken a reading its 1.020 if ive read it correct :s

 

[eggman]

If it is 1.020 then its definitely stuck. Best bet is to give it a very gentle stir (take care not to splash) with a sanitised paddle/spoon to rouse the yeast and get the temp up to 20deg, give at least 3 more days and take another reading to see where it's at
:

P.s have you read the stuck fermentation guide?

 

[ryanshelton]

If it is 1.020 then its definitely stuck. Best bet is to give it a very gentle stir (take care not to splash) with a sanitised paddle/spoon to rouse the yeast and get the temp up to 20deg, give at least 3 more days and take another reading to see where it's at
:

P.s have you read the stuck fermentation guide?

Thanks for that so could I gently stir it and add nutrient? Or just stir? Also when u mean stir should I disturb the sediment?

 

[eggman]

Not sure about the nutrient, never used it myself. But yes you need to try and get some of the yeast back in suspension as the extended cold period is likely to made it drop out and go dormant. Hopefully it should come down further
:

 

[ryanshelton]

Ok ive stirred it and added some nutrient so will hopefully see some improvement over next 48 hours :grin:

 

[ryanshelton]

Still nothing. No activity at all. No bubbles are my yeasties dead?

 

[Andyhull]

They won't be dead, you can freeze them!
What temp are you at now?

 

[ryanshelton]

20c sometimes 22c. I didnt realise u can freeze them :shock:

 

[Andyhull]

Alot of the more experienced guys harves their yeast and freeze them for later use.
It should have got going again after a gentle rousing at that temp?

check the SG again you may not have as good a seal this time and it wouldn't have the same vigerouse ferment as it did initially so may not have bubbled at all!

 

[oz11]

Generally do NOT freeze yeast unless you are adding glycerol otherwise it is highly likely to kill the little blighters. Some people have done and got away with, but it is, on the whole, not conducive to healthy yeast.

 

[ryanshelton]

Ok I was wrong, it must be doing something as the sg is now 1.012. What should I be looking for it to settle at roughly? I know I need to take 3 consecutive readings to make sure its ready

 

[eggman]

1.012 is pretty much done for a Wherry, I've never had one finish lower. Best to check again over the next 2 days just to make sure then get it bottled/kegged

 

[ryanshelton]

1.012 is pretty much done for a Wherry, I've never had one finish lower. Best to check again over the next 2 days just to make sure then get it bottled/kegged

Ok thats great ill keep checking it :) im going to batch prime before bottling, how much sugar would you recommend?

 

[eggman]

Kinda depends how fizzy you like your ales really, 80-100grams is about the norm. I don't like mine too fizzy so go for about 60grams
:

 

[ryanshelton]

Kinda depends how fizzy you like your ales really, 80-100grams is about the norm. I don't like mine too fizzy so go for about 60grams
:

I like the real ales you get in weatherspoons etc and there not too fizzy so maybe 60-70g?

 

[eggman]

I would probably go for around 70grams, then next time you'll know whether to up it a bit or add a bit less
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