So after getting my feet wet I wanted to try my favorite style of beer, an IPA.
Octane IPA kit from Midwest (extract + steep)
estimated OG 1.064-1.068
estimated FG 1.012-1.018
Day 1: Brewed it up! Actual OG was 1.067 and it started bubbling away 4-5 hours in. I poured through a sieve back a forth a few times for aeration. Pitched 2 packets of 5g munton's ale yeast, rehydrated w/o a starter.
The fermentation took off quick but never went crazy. Solid bubbles on an airlock but didn't use/need a blowoff.
Day 9: Since this beer has oak chips for the secondary, I prepare them and rack into carboy. SG check is at 1.021-1.022. There was some action but very limited, might have mostly been co2 coming out.
Day 26: Today was 17th day in secondary and with little to no action the last week, I decide to take a reading w/ bottling in mind. To my surprise the airlock is bubbling relatively strongly. There's also a solid layer of what appears to be krausen/bubbles on the surface. Hydrometer says 1.018.
This surprised me. At first my mind thinks of the worst and maybe wild yeast infection or something, considering it was dormant for so long. But it's still in range of suggested FG. Is this likely a stuck fermentation that just took off? There has been no drastic change in temp or anything.
It tasted great! Bitter as hell (in a good way) but also still had quite a bit of sweetness. I'm not as much worried as surprised and will just be keeping an eye on it. My other question is: if it was just stuck and this is fermenting normally, should I give it another week or two to clear in secondary or just bottle away when gravity stops dropping? I wouldn't worry about the timing except I've heard oak chips can pump out too much flavor if left with the beer for a long time.
Until then I'll relax, not worry, and have a homebrew.
(will update w/ whatever result)
Octane IPA kit from Midwest (extract + steep)
estimated OG 1.064-1.068
estimated FG 1.012-1.018
Day 1: Brewed it up! Actual OG was 1.067 and it started bubbling away 4-5 hours in. I poured through a sieve back a forth a few times for aeration. Pitched 2 packets of 5g munton's ale yeast, rehydrated w/o a starter.
The fermentation took off quick but never went crazy. Solid bubbles on an airlock but didn't use/need a blowoff.
Day 9: Since this beer has oak chips for the secondary, I prepare them and rack into carboy. SG check is at 1.021-1.022. There was some action but very limited, might have mostly been co2 coming out.
Day 26: Today was 17th day in secondary and with little to no action the last week, I decide to take a reading w/ bottling in mind. To my surprise the airlock is bubbling relatively strongly. There's also a solid layer of what appears to be krausen/bubbles on the surface. Hydrometer says 1.018.
This surprised me. At first my mind thinks of the worst and maybe wild yeast infection or something, considering it was dormant for so long. But it's still in range of suggested FG. Is this likely a stuck fermentation that just took off? There has been no drastic change in temp or anything.
It tasted great! Bitter as hell (in a good way) but also still had quite a bit of sweetness. I'm not as much worried as surprised and will just be keeping an eye on it. My other question is: if it was just stuck and this is fermenting normally, should I give it another week or two to clear in secondary or just bottle away when gravity stops dropping? I wouldn't worry about the timing except I've heard oak chips can pump out too much flavor if left with the beer for a long time.
Until then I'll relax, not worry, and have a homebrew.
(will update w/ whatever result)