Fastfermenter question

[braggster]

Brewed a brown ale about 2 weeks ago. SG ready was 1.051 and final was suppose to be around 1.013. After a week of fermenting I took readings and my reading was at 1.023. Couple days later I took another reading and it was still 1.023 so I pitched some more yeast. After another week I took another reading and still sitting at 1.023. I removed the collection ball and poured the contents back into the Fastfermenter. My thinking is maybe this will get the yeast back into suspension and hopefully get them to finish their job. Anyone try this before? What was outcome? Any thoughts?

 

[Jtk78]

I do not have a Fastfermenter, but did you check your hydrometer in water, preferably in distilled or RO? It should read 1.000, but sometimes they are off just a little bit. Probably not by the delta you are seeing between your FG and the expected FG, but nice to know for future batches too.

Was this an extract or all grain batch and was it a kit you purchased or recipe you followed or created? It's not uncommon for extract batches to stall or finish higher than expected.

Next thought is what is the temperature of the beer? Are you controlling the temperature at all? What strain was the original yeast? Did you pitch the same strain the second time?

At this point, I doubt adding the yeast from the collection ball will drop the gravity any more given you already pitched more yeast.

 

[Stranglehold]

Are you taking the readings with a hydrometer or a refractometer?

 

[braggster]

Are you taking the readings with a hydrometer or a refractometer?

Refractometer

 

[braggster]

I do not have a Fastfermenter, but did you check your hydrometer in water, preferably in distilled or RO? It should read 1.000, but sometimes they are off just a little bit. Probably not by the delta you are seeing between your FG and the expected FG, but nice to know for future batches too.

Was this an extract or all grain batch and was it a kit you purchased or recipe you followed or created? It's not uncommon for extract batches to stall or finish higher than expected.

Next thought is what is the temperature of the beer? Are you controlling the temperature at all? What strain was the original yeast? Did you pitch the same strain the second time?

At this point, I doubt adding the yeast from the collection ball will drop the gravity any more given you already pitched more yeast.

I am using a refractometer and i just recently calibrated it with distilled water. The beer i brewed was from a kit. I was using the dry yeast US05. I dont have anyway to control my temperature. I have it in my closet with the door open so the house A/C is what I am using for temperature control.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

refractometer's don't read alcohol very well without a conversion formula, your best using a hydrometer

 

[triletter]

You were done the first time. You have to use a conversion when alcohol is involved. Just converting your 1.023 to Brix of 5.5 would have you at 1.004 fg. Not super accurate, but you were done a long time ago.