Fermentation Stuck - Brew Fixes or Ideas to Restart

[bsyas89]

I have done 3 BIAB recipes and my FG has come in high on all of them. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. For this recipe I did a fly sparge and my OG was at 1.054 when done. Its now been 1.5 weeks fermentation has stopped (same gravity reading for 2 days). Should add more yeast, amylase or just let it sit longer?

Recipe

Original Gravity (OG): 1.055
IBU's (Tinseth): 43
ABV%: 5.32

Efficiency into Kettle (EIK): 79.7 %
Efficiency into Fermentor (EIF): 68.3 %

Times and Temperatures

Mash: 90 mins at 66.7 C = 152 F
Boil: 60 min
Ferment: 28 days at 19 C = 66.2 F

Volumes & Gravities

Total Water Needed (TWN): 31.58 L = 8.34 G
Volume into Kettle (VIK): 29.33 L = 7.75 G @ 1.045
End of Boil Volume - Ambient (EOBV-A): 23.18 L = 6.12 G @ 1.055
Volume into Fermentor (VIF): 19.87 L = 5.25 G @ 1.055
Volume into Packaging (VIP): 18.4 L = 4.86 G @ 1.014 assuming apparent attenuation of 75 %

The Grain Bill (Also includes extracts, sugars and adjuncts)

77.8% American Two-Row 4186 grams = 9.23 pounds
11.1% Crystal 20L 598 grams = 1.32 pounds
8.3% Flaked Oats 448 grams = 0.99 pounds
2.8% Red Wheat 149 grams = 0.33 pounds

The Hop Bill (Based on Tinseth Formula)

5.5 IBU Cascade Pellets (5.5%AA) 9.6 grams = 0.339 ounces at 60 mins
10.8 IBU Amarillo Pellets (8.9%AA) 19.2 grams = 0.678 ounces at 20 mins
6.7 IBU Cascade Pellets (5.5%AA) 19.2 grams = 0.678 ounces at 20 mins
8.5 IBU Simcoe Pellets (14%AA) 9.6 grams = 0.339 ounces at 20 mins
3.6 IBU Amarillo Pellets (8.9%AA) 19.2 grams = 0.679 ounces at 5 mins
2.2 IBU Cascade Pellets (5.5%AA) 19.2 grams = 0.679 ounces at 5 mins
5.6 IBU Simcoe Pellets (14%AA) 19.2 grams = 0.679 ounces at 5 mins

Mash Steps

Mash Type: Pure BIAB (Full Volume Mash) for 90 mins at 66.666666 C = 152

Fermentation& Conditioning

Fermention: 2 Packets Wyeast - 1056 American Ale for 28 days at 20 C = 68 F
**Yeast Nutrient Used**

 

[Hello]

How are you measuring gravity?

 

[bsyas89]

How are you measuring gravity?

I measured with a refractometer and hydrometer for my OG and the refractometer for FG.

 

[myndflyte]

So what is the gravity reading at right now?

 

[bsyas89]

So what is the gravity reading at right now?

reading as of today is 1.024

 

[bsyas89]

Can confirm my thermometer is correct.

 

[Rockn_M]

I measured with a refractometer and hydrometer for my OG and the refractometer for FG.

Try using the hydrometer for FG, make sure it's calibrated correctly and the sample is at the calibrated temp. I believe the refractometer can be skewed because of the alcohol in the FG sample.

 

[Hello]

I measured with a refractometer and hydrometer for my OG and the refractometer for FG.

Go get the hydrometer and use that. While I understand you can use a refractometer for measuring fermented beer then you can convert the reading using some kind of calculator, my experience has been that the refractometer read high every time. I would absolutely measure FG again right now with a hydrometer and report your results.

There is nothing in your process or grain bill that suggests such low attenuation and stuck fermentations.

 

[bsyas89]

Go get the hydrometer and use that. While I understand you can use a refractometer for measuring fermented beer then you can convert the reading using some kind of calculator, my experience has been that the refractometer read high every time. I would absolutely measure FG again right now with a hydrometer and report your results.

There is nothing in your process or grain bill that suggests such low attenuation and stuck fermentations.

I will do that tonight and report back. Thank you.

 

[bsyas89]

Go get the hydrometer and use that. While I understand you can use a refractometer for measuring fermented beer then you can convert the reading using some kind of calculator, my experience has been that the refractometer read high every time. I would absolutely measure FG again right now with a hydrometer and report your results.

There is nothing in your process or grain bill that suggests such low attenuation and stuck fermentations.

I use natural spring water from the store. Would this effect my fg at all? I'm thinking no because my OG came in at 1.054

 

[Hello]

I will do that tonight and report back. Thank you.

I use natural spring water from the store. Would this effect my fg at all? I'm thinking no because my OG came in at 1.054

Nope. I've never had an issue with spring water but YMMV.

 

[bsyas89]

Ok, so my hydrometer reading came in at 1.008. Is that weird? Are refractometers supposed to be that far off?

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Alcohol skews the readings of refractometers there's quite a lot of information here
http://seanterrill.com
including a pretty decent calculator
http://seanterrill.com/2012/01/06/refractometer-calculator/

 

[NTXBrauer]

As Hello mentions above, you need to use a refractometer calculator to get a correct reading with alcohol present. Here is one from Northern Brewer. Plug in your numbers and see how close you get to your hydro reading.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/refractometer-calculator/

 

[jfr1111]

Yeah, use the hydrometer for measuring FG.