Dopplebock Stuck

Have a dopplebock with SG 1.086 in fermentor. 2 weeks in primary. SG only dropped to 1.04. Should I repitch yeast?

Wow- that's really slow. Are you checking with a hydrometer that has been recently checked to make sure it's accurate?

No, I just based on BRIX of 10.

I used White Cali V yeast w 1500ml starter and stir plate. BS said I needed 277bil and this was supposed to make 279bil.

ShoreBrewer said:

No, I just based on BRIX of 10.

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Oh, that makes so much more sense, then!

Run and take a reading with a hydrometer. I bet it's time for a diacetyl rest, or even past.

Do you suggest 3 days at 68? Then drop for another week or 2? This is my first deviation from ales other than 1 kolsch. Spent way too much on grain bill for this batch to screw it up.

ShoreBrewer said:

Do you suggest 3 days at 68? Then drop for another week or 2? This is my first deviation from ales other than 1 kolsch. Spent way too much on grain bill for this batch to screw it up.

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Three days might be fine at 68 degrees. Then, once there is no hint of diacetyl and the beer is at FG, it's fine to rack and lager.

You want to do the diacetyl rest when the beer is 75% of the way finished. That is one reason a correct hydrometer reading is so important at this point. A refractometer is totally useless at this point (less than useless, as it gives incorrect information once alcohol is in the mix, and trying to determine the time for a diacetyl rest).

Thanks for your help.

I feel quite stupid right now. I always use a hydrometer, until this batch where I was relying on my refrac only. The really stupid part is that I did not do the correction for alcohol. Used used Sean Terrills calculator and its at 1.011..... beyond done. Am I screwed with buttered dopplebock, or will the rest still help.

ShoreBrewer said:

I feel quite stupid right now. I always use a hydrometer, until this batch where I was relying on my refrac only. The really stupid part is that I did not do the correction for alcohol. Used used Sean Terrills calculator and its at 1.011..... beyond done. Am I screwed with buttered dopplebock, or will the rest still help.

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No, the rest might still help, especially if you taste any diacetyl. You might not even have any.

You still need a hydrometer reading (calculators aren't accurate, even when accounting for alcohol) but you're definitely not stuck!

Thanks Yooper!