Hard Root Beer (Sugar) not fermenting

[stillshinen]

I am making a hard root beer recipe out of BYO magazine and it isn't fermenting as fast as expected. Basically 4lbs of sugar in 4.5 gallons of water with a OG of 1.075 and aiming for a FG of 0.955. I didn't notice (smell of co2 in fermentation chamber) active fermentation after two days yeast added so I added another package of Champagne yeast. Now at 10 days after first packet added the SG is 1.055. I was expecting it go come down faster.

Fermenter chest temp is 68F or 20C.
Yeast is stored in the frig and not expired.

 

[madscientist451]

Try to swirl the bucket/carboy to mix things up and see what happens?
Anything else added besides sugar,water and yeast?

 

[stillshinen]

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[stillshinen]

Mad scientist, after about 30 seconds do stirring with a spoon if foams up. So I know it is fermenting. How long should it take to reach the target SG?

 

[KepowOb]

If it's only simple sugars in there, i would expect it to ferment pretty fast.

What's the full recipe?

 

[stillshinen]

I was thinking the same thing. I have been stiring it now every day and it looks like it is picking up.

Ingredients
4 lbs. (1.8 kg) pure cane sugar
1 tablespoon (15 mL) molasses
½ tsp. yeast nutrient
Root beer extract (quantities vary based on extract)
2-4 tsp. baking soda (added to taste)
Clean fermenting ale yeast (Champagne works well also)
2 lbs. (0.91 kg) sugar to backsweeten (added to cold keg)

 

[stillshinen]

A week ago i rehydrated a third pack of Champagne yeast and added it. It has moved about 4-5 points. this is getting ridiculous .

 

[madscientist451]

I agree about the ridiculousness. Are you using a refractometer or a hydrometer? If its a hydrometer what does it read in plain water?
Can't think of anything else.

 

[pdxal]

Try adding more nutrient, too.

 

[stillshinen]

The nutrient helped but it is still at 1.026. I am going to cold crash and rack to a keg. It will sweet but that will just mean less sugar to back sweeten with.

 

[stillshinen]

The nutrients helped and my hydrometer read 0.00 in water. It is down to 1.022 am am losing patience so i will be cold crashing this weekend.