Been lurking and learning and finally brewed my first batch, an Irish Red ale - unhopped extract with specialty grains from midwest. Everything went ok except I could only get a partial boil (will be investing in propane burner) The only thing I may have skimped on was aeration due to getting distracted with rehydrating the yeast, but it was still pretty foamy after transferring. My OG was 1.052 but should have been 1.043, and after reading here was probably due to the top up water, even though it was stirred the whole time it was cooling while adding cold top up water. The yeast kicked off under 12 hours and it completely stopped bubbling in under 36. I took a reading and it was 1.020. The temp was 63-65 so I raised it some to 68 and it started bubbling again but stopped in under 12 so it may have been off gas. Then tonight 36 hours after my last reading and four days after pitching I checked again and it is still 1.020. The expected FG should be 1.010. I calibrated my hydrometer and it is spot on. If my OG was correct then I am at the expected 4.3 abv with only 50 percent attenuation. Since it was an extract and was probably wrong then I am at 3.2 abv and 42 percent attenuation. So am I stuck? Should I try to stir the bottom gently? Re-pitch some yeast? Or maybe something else? I have tried searching but didnt find exactly what i was looking for.
The RDWHAHB is hard since this is my first batch, but I have been substituting with some craft beer for the time being, maybe that is the problem.
It smells and looks great, and i cant wait to drink it, I just want it to be closer to where it should be. Thanks ahead for any help.
The RDWHAHB is hard since this is my first batch, but I have been substituting with some craft beer for the time being, maybe that is the problem.
It smells and looks great, and i cant wait to drink it, I just want it to be closer to where it should be. Thanks ahead for any help.