1.020 stuck steam

[gratefuldisc]

I searched, I promise. Most of the "stuck" threads I waded through just ended with the advice to check SG to confirm stuckness.

My california common steam has been in primary and I think it is stuck. (OG 1.055, SafLager S-23, 58*-62* for 10 days, target 1.012) SG has been 1.020 for 4 days.

Should I leave it or take some action? Should I move it somewhere warmer? gently stir up the yeast? repitch? just call it done and rack to secondary (I want to free up primary for next batch)?

 

[Wellshooter]

Go buy another primary and let it set for another week. Your going to need more than one primary anyway.

 

[twohands]

Did you pitch a starter?

Are you AG or Extract + steeped grains?

Did you oxygenate, or simply slosh?

 

[gratefuldisc]

extract and steeping grains, poured 3 gallon boil into 2 gallons boiled topoff water in fermenter and churned vigorously with a big ladle for about a minute to aerate took OG reading, then pitched dry yeast and churned again for another 30 seconds. It was frothy so I assumed it was aerated enough...

 

[twohands]

Sounds good - what was the yeast strain?

 

[pompeiisneaks]

The way to really test if it is "stuck" is to take two or three subsequent gravity readings over two to three days. If it sits exactly at that point, then its no longer fermenting and may need to either (a) be repitched w./ more yeast, (b) be transferred to a secondary to get some of the yeast moving again or (c) just be patient and see if it still takes off. If you don't see it moving after 3 days of gravity readings, then I'd try a or b, but c never hurts either... Where have your temps been sitting?

~Phil

 

[pompeiisneaks]

... SafLager S-23, ...

from original post...

 

[gratefuldisc]

58*-62* for 10 days, I know this is on the low end for an ale but this is a lager yeast so I figured cooler would be better...

 

[twohands]

"58*-62* for 10 days" from OP.

 

[twohands]

OK - so temp is OK, pitching rate is decent.

Give it a mighty swirl and wait 2 days. Then see if its stuck.

 

[twohands]

from original post...

Yeah. I stink. From the OP. Sorry.

 

[pompeiisneaks]

Yeah and I read the temps from the OP but wasn't really sure if the OP meant, "this is what I've done" or "this is what the instructions called for" But, at any rate, keep an eye on it, be patient for a little longer, transfer to a secondary if you need to use the primary again (but its always good to get more primaries

 

[johnnyc]

I'd say let it bring it up to 70 and swirl it around. if that doesn't change anything go ahead and rack it. 1.020 isn't uncommon for extract brews, I had several stop there.