Followed the directions...not good I think

[skagneti]

So I brewed my first batch using a kit and, despite never doing so in other areas of life, I followed directions. Dropped the yeast in as soon as my temp was under 90 degrees...at 89 actually. Not overly panicked, but what are the risks with dropping the yeast at this temp?

It took three days to start fermenting, but has produced bubbles for a week and a half since and doesn't appear to be infected. The only other concern is that og was 1.16 and now is only 1.2...thoughts?

 

[JLW]

Recipe would be helpful. Are you saying the OG was 1.016? and now the OG is 1.012? That OG seems really low. Did you take the sample after you added top of water and before you mixed the wort really well? Are you sure you read the hydrometer correctly?

Also, pitching at 89 degrees seems way too high. I cool my wort down to about 68 degrees before I pitch. My guess is the beer is ok and I would let it keep fermenting for a few more days before you take another gravity reading.

 

[stratslinger]

Well, you might want to double-check those numbers... 1.16 is a very big beer, and there's no way it would've gone UP to 1.2.

As to the yeast - you probably stressed them out at that temperature, and might get some off flavors. It'll still be beer - just might taste a little different than you were aiming for. What yeast strain were you using? That would help folks to narrow down the exact range of effects that temp might have on your beer.

 

[Priemus]

+1 on that high temp, you're shocking them pretty hard, it wont kill them. They'll take longer to get going, which would explain why it took 3 days to get started. It may produce some strange flavours, but it will be beer.

And indeed, that gravity makes no sense to me either.

Need to know what its made out of.

 

[skagneti]

it was a true brew Brown Ale kit that I was using...previous post was off. Hey it is Friday and I am typing from work. Original measurement was 1.046 and now it is 1.02. I got the kit from my local homebrew store, but here is a link to the kit I used http://www.winemakersdepot.com/Webpage.aspx?WebpageId=48.

 

[unionrdr]

So you have 1.020. It needs to go down a little farther. Not to mention,letting it sit on the yeast cake after you do reach FG so the lil yeasties can clean up the off flavors you'll get.

 

[JLW]

It sounds like it will be fine. I would just l t sit there for a few more days. The yeasties know what to do. Also, with time the off-flavors (if you get them) should mellow a bit.

Like I mentioned earlier I would get my wort down to 68-70 degrees before pitching.

 

[Priemus]

The kit also says leave it to ferment a week, leave it 3-4 weeks. Trust me.

Edit:
" Allow the warm mixture (it’s now unfermented beer, called wort) to cool if necessary, until it’s under 90 degrees F." I think thats probably a bare minimum, as much higher will kill yeast (125 i think will do em in) but its a terrible goal temp.

Sum it up, leave it at least 3 weeks, next time pitch yeast a little lower temp.

Should be fine.