Docapi
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- Aug 24, 2007
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I've got a batch of Coopers Brewmaster series Pilsner brewing.
I followed the directions to a "T", boled, cooled it to about 55 or 60 degrees, and dumped in the yeast packet and wort into an Ale pail and fitted it with a 2 piece airlock.
OG was 1.042 at 60 degrees.
I then put it right in my temp controlled freezer set at 50 degrees.
It took about 2 days before I noticed any airlock activity, and even then it seemed slow. I just attributed it to nervous noob syndrome, and the fact that my past brewing has been mostly apfelwein and other wines in a Better Bottle with an "s" type airlock.
I figured it was due to the extra airspace, lagering temps, and different airlock type made it less obvious than what I was used to.
The directions say to ferment for 6 days and then check SG.
I figured a little extra time couldn't hurt, and might actually be a good thing, so I waited until today- day 9- before I messed with it.
Pulled it out, and there is a light crausen ring and some foam still left floating on top.
I stick my hydrometer in the wine thief and pull a sample. I notice that while I'm doing it, I get a lot of carbonation- probably about 1 1/2" of head in the thief after it settles.
I'm thinking with that much crausen, foam, carbonation, etc that I must have pretty much finished fermenting- but the hydrometer shows and SG reading of 1.040 at 50 degrees. (when you figure in temp differences, that means no drop at all)
I tried to kinda tap on it and shake it around a bit to get some of the carbonation dispersed and got it to drop to about 1.030, but that still seems awfully high. I sure don't want to keg it yet!
I wasn't planning on doing a dactyl (Sp?) rest, since the directions don't call for one, but I decided to leave it on top of the freezer where it is 60-65 for a day or 2 to maybe get going and finish.
What do you think?
Hydrometer off from the carbonation (or something else)?
Hydrometer right- in which case, what do I need to do to get it going- get more yeast?
Leave it in the warmer spot to get going an finish?
Put it back in the keezer and hope it gets going on it's own?
RDWHAHB?
I followed the directions to a "T", boled, cooled it to about 55 or 60 degrees, and dumped in the yeast packet and wort into an Ale pail and fitted it with a 2 piece airlock.
OG was 1.042 at 60 degrees.
I then put it right in my temp controlled freezer set at 50 degrees.
It took about 2 days before I noticed any airlock activity, and even then it seemed slow. I just attributed it to nervous noob syndrome, and the fact that my past brewing has been mostly apfelwein and other wines in a Better Bottle with an "s" type airlock.
I figured it was due to the extra airspace, lagering temps, and different airlock type made it less obvious than what I was used to.
The directions say to ferment for 6 days and then check SG.
I figured a little extra time couldn't hurt, and might actually be a good thing, so I waited until today- day 9- before I messed with it.
Pulled it out, and there is a light crausen ring and some foam still left floating on top.
I stick my hydrometer in the wine thief and pull a sample. I notice that while I'm doing it, I get a lot of carbonation- probably about 1 1/2" of head in the thief after it settles.
I'm thinking with that much crausen, foam, carbonation, etc that I must have pretty much finished fermenting- but the hydrometer shows and SG reading of 1.040 at 50 degrees. (when you figure in temp differences, that means no drop at all)
I tried to kinda tap on it and shake it around a bit to get some of the carbonation dispersed and got it to drop to about 1.030, but that still seems awfully high. I sure don't want to keg it yet!
I wasn't planning on doing a dactyl (Sp?) rest, since the directions don't call for one, but I decided to leave it on top of the freezer where it is 60-65 for a day or 2 to maybe get going and finish.
What do you think?
Hydrometer off from the carbonation (or something else)?
Hydrometer right- in which case, what do I need to do to get it going- get more yeast?
Leave it in the warmer spot to get going an finish?
Put it back in the keezer and hope it gets going on it's own?
RDWHAHB?