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DocBrown · 04-10-2009, 10:34 PM

Hello,
My third batch has now been in the primary just shy of two weeks. I'm making the AHS Cannon Ball stout (extract recipe), which ended up with an OG of 1.115. I pitched two tubes of WLP007 and also added a capsule of BrewVint yeast nutrient to give the yeast a good running start. I do need to thank everyone here for the blow-off tube advice. In well under 24 hours I had a lot of foam going through my tube, a good bit leaking out around the edge of my airlock stopper, and the top of my ale pail was still bulging upwards a bit! It's settled down a good bit now, though when I checked the gravity yesterday, it read 1.040.
I knew going in that I'd have to be really patient with this one and that there was no way it would come out of the primary in anything less than 2 weeks. With the gravity still this high, I figured I wouldn't even bother checking it again for another week. My question is, how long should I expect the fermentation to take? I did give the bucket a bit of a swirl to encourage the yeast to keep moving. My fermentation temps have been between 64deg and 71deg. Should I be at all surprised that the gravity is still that high 2 weeks in?

Thanks,
JB

**TexLaw** · 04-10-2009, 10:47 PM

Not really. That's a HUGE beer, and it will take time, if it's not already done. If you see no more movement in a week, try to rack it to rouse the yeast. If that does nothing, then you may have maxed out your yeast.

You're already pushing 10% ABV, there, and 007 can start pooping out around that point.

TL

crazyboy · 04-10-2009, 11:06 PM

1.115 is leaning to imperial stout status. I would suggest 3-4 weeks in primary, 3-4 weeks in secondary and 6-8 weeks in a bottle. A beer that big takes a while to ferment, age and mellow.

wyo220 · 04-11-2009, 06:18 PM

I have been looking at this same kit. If wlp007 cant handle this big of a beer ( I think thats what Texlaw is saying) what yeast would you all recomend.
Thanks
Kyle
Sorry not trying to hijack your thread.

DocBrown · 04-16-2009, 06:55 PM

Hello all.
Well, it's been a week and there's been no movement in my SG. Should I go ahead and rack it? I was under the impression that very little fermentation will actually happen in the secondary. Also, I was thinking that a good bit of the sediment at the bottom is yeast, which means that racking would essentially reduce the number of yeast present. Would I be better of sanitizing my brewing spoon and trying to stir the wort up a bit (obviously while limiting the amount of splashing and aeration as much as possible)?

carnevoodoo · 04-16-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyboy

1.115 is leaning to imperial stout status. I would suggest 3-4 weeks in primary, 3-4 weeks in secondary and 6-8 weeks in a bottle. A beer that big takes a while to ferment, age and mellow.

Leaning? 1.115 is leaning towards Emperor Stout status.

McGarnigle · 04-16-2009, 07:11 PM

I'd go with stirring rather than racking. Secondary won't drop the FG. You'd do that after the final FG was more or less attained.

carnevoodoo · 04-16-2009, 07:20 PM

I should have added that you did underpitch for a beer this size. 2 vials is really not enough for a beer like that. You might reach normal attenuation on this beer, but I wouldn't expect it to go beyond.

DocBrown · 04-16-2009, 08:38 PM

Would it be too late to get another vial and pitch it as well? With the wort already at around 10% alcohol, would another vial of yeast even really have a good chance to get started? I'll trying stirring it up a bit later on tonight.

DocBrown · 04-16-2009, 08:45 PM

One other thought: I'm fermenting this in an ale pail, and I'm getting my hydrometer samples from the spigot at the bottom of the bucket, which probably means my gravities may be a bit high, especially for the OG. But I would assume that wouldn't be enough to account for this large a gravity late in the fermentation.