Finished fermentation? Ready to bottle?

[bruder]

Hi

I did an extract brew (Muntons Connoisseur Bock Beer, one can, 1.8kg). I used DME 1kg and one sachet Safbrew S-33, pitched at 73.4F after rehydration.

Fermentation started very quickly (within three hours). It was very active for the first two days, and then completely stopped. Max temperature was 75F.

I roused the yeast, after which it started again. It was quite active for about six to seven days after which it slowed down completely. The temperature was between 60 - 71F. It is still bubbling every minute (day 21). Is this just off gassing?

The OG was 1.048.
Hydrometer readings Day 18: 1.022
Day 21: 1.022

The sample I used for the hydrometer measurements smells & tastes like beer, but very weak.
1. Should I be aiming for a lower FG?
2. Should I add more yeast?
3. The gravity readings have been stable for three days. Does this mean that fermentation has stopped and I can/should start bottling?

I’d appreciate any advice or comments. Thanks.

 

[SlitheryDee]

That does seem a bit high. I'm not familiar with either that extract or that yeast, but the instructions from the munton's website indicate that it should be finishing at or below a SG of 1.008. Using DME instead of the sugar the instructions call for will raise that number a bit due to the DME being comparatively less fermentable than sugar. It shouldn't be as high as 1.022. I'm thinking you have a stalled fermentation for some reason. I think perhaps I would give it another week and see if the gravity drops any more, then start thinking about taking some action to restart it.

http://www.muntonshomebrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/CONNOISSEUR_TRANSLATION_X12.pdf

 

[Nokie]

I don't know what it is about the extract kits but I had the same trouble and it seems pretty common. The few I had never got below 1.022.
I had posted about it a few weeks ago.
If you've taken readings and they haven't changed at all then you're all done fermenting.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=628504

 

[bruder]

Thanks! I think i"ll wait a week and then bottle.