Stuck Fertmentatation or not?

chugguar · Post by **chugguar** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 7:53 pm

Gday all. I am new to all of this brewing (and loving it) so this may be a really bloody dumb question but here goes.

8 days ago I started a Coopers premium sparkling ale with
500grams light dry malt
1.5 kg Can of Coopers Amber Malt extract
300grams of Dextrose.
Packet Yeast that came in Kit
It started at 1058 SG and after 5 days of temperatures on the thermometer ranging from 20 - 28 degrees it was tested and it had arrived at 1016SG. I left it for 4 more days and it was bubbling happily away, it has now stopped but it is still at 1016. Is this finished, should I add more yeast or stir it? It has stopped bubbling through the air lock. Should I leave it longer?
I don't rack as yet so I can not do that.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chugguar"

BenH · Post by **BenH** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 8:22 pm

Hey Chugguar - in my experience if yer gravity reading is stopped over three consecutive days at the same reading, its safe to bottle. Have you moved your fermenter around lately? Sometimes this can trigger more bubbling which isn't actually fermenting.

chugguar · Post by **chugguar** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 10:33 pm

Thanks mate for your help. I might just bottle the bugger and see what happens.
Chugguar.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 10:36 pm

It's probaby about right for the contents, without doing a calculation...

You could probably bottle now, but I always say, better to leave it a few more days if in doubt. The only thing that will happen is that your beer will improve. If you don't rack you can still get some benefit by leaving in the primary for a further week or two.

Emo · Post by **Emo** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 10:59 pm

It sounds like it's stopped. I leave mine in the fermenter for 2 weeks just to be on the safe side. I gave up on SG and FG readings long ago.

chugguar · Post by **chugguar** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 11:09 pm

Ok, sounds like I am on track. Maybe I will leave it till next weekend and bottle it then. Thanks.

pacman · Post by **pacman** » Saturday Feb 10, 2007 11:30 pm

So how long can you leave a brew in primary?

Have tried racking a couple of times, but not convinced it is worth the effort. Am a lazy bugger.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Sunday Feb 11, 2007 12:23 am

I think you'd be safe with a month, 3 weeks is a good useful time - 1 week or so to ferment out and 2 weeks to condition. Have not encountered autolysis yet, which apparently can lead to some very nasty flavours.

FWIW I rack and find it a better option. If it's worth the hour of boiling plus prep time etc., it's worth racking I reckon.