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Kit fermentation stuck...

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squirrelgirl

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I have a kit that I started, but before the secondary fermentation even started it was stuck. My SG is at 1.048 or 1.050. Any suggestions on how to get this number to get down to 1.010 at this point? I cant seem to get it to change.
Or should I just continue on with the kit and see where it goes? It is a port wine, and according to the instructions it is supposed to be around 1.010 at this point (I think, I know the 1.050 is totally wrong though!)
Thanks in advance. It will really suck if this doesnt work out, because its one of those limited edition kits: Chocolate Raspberry Port. Sounds so yummy!
:(
 
I'd take periodic SG readings over a day or so to sure it's really stopped and not just slowed.

You didn't mention the type of yeast, but some are more tolerant of drops in pH than others. Also the temp range of the yeast verses the temperature you are keeping at can also have an effect ... these could be the culprit.

Yup, like yooper said, stir it up real good to get some oxygen to the yeast.

I would also make sure it is being stored in an area where the temperature is in a good range for the yeast you are using ... say, mid to upper 70's for most yeasts.

A temperature correction and a good stirring may get things moving by themselves.

If it was me, with the SG still safely up around 1.04 I would add some yeast energizer too.
If you were actually going to go buy something, make sure it's not straight DAP but instead an "energizer" type product such as Carleson Yeast Energizer or even better Lallemand's Go-Ferm or Nutrient Vit-End.
 
i put it from the primary to the secondary and was hoping that would help to get things moving again but nothing is going on. the starting sg was was withing the range from the sheet I got with the kit about 1.128 according to my notes, but now its all just stuck. I started this kit on Oct 2 and should be in the clearing stage by now, but I have been trying to get this to bounce back to life.
The temp its at is around 75 degrees, there is a fermentation blanket on the carboy and i have a towel wrapped around that.
 
i put it from the primary to the secondary and was hoping that would help to get things moving again but nothing is going on. the starting sg was was withing the range from the sheet I got with the kit about 1.128 according to my notes, but now its all just stuck. I started this kit on Oct 2 and should be in the clearing stage by now, but I have been trying to get this to bounce back to life.
The temp its at is around 75 degrees, there is a fermentation blanket on the carboy and i have a towel wrapped around that.

Racking it may permanently stall it. You normally don't rack a stalled wine, as you're removing it from some of the yeast. You may still have quite a few yeast in suspension so it's nothing to really worry about yet- more of a "next time, don't rack it!" piece of advice.

What's the projected FG of that wine? If you're more than 10 points away from the likely FG, you can try using a sanitized long dowel or racking cane and stir the heck out of it a few times per day. You can also add some yeast energizier and/or some yeast nutrient. But take a sample of wine out and stir in the nutrient, then pour it back as if you just add the nutrients, it'll bubble and foam like a volcano.
 
I got the temp to go up, put a blanket around it with a towel. (A fermenter blanket).
So now that the temp is up, it seems to be changing again. Its down to 1.040 as of last night, so I will keep checking it and see where it takes me...hoping that it will drop closer to the goal SG.
Thank you for your help and advice, next time I know not to put it in the secondary until things are where they should be.
Had the SG not started to go down though, if I had added another packet of yeast would that help things or would that make it worse? Just curious on how that would work out as well.
And since the SG is going down, should I just leave well enough alone or should I still add that nutrient like Yooper suggested?
 
While a "kit" should (one would think) have the yeast and any other chemicals matched to the anticipated pH, sugar level, and nutrient needs ... my first curiosity would be whether the pH (one of the measures of acid in the wine) was too acidic for the yeast.

There are times when, as the yeast does it's thing, the wine actually becomes more acidic as it ferments ... and can become so acidic that it stalls the fermentation ... other factors come into play too, but the acid/pH is a common one in a stalled ferment.

If this is the case then a yeast strain that didn't like it the first time would like it not much more the second time, assuming any new packet of yeast you might add is the same type. In general, no, you do not want to just add more yeast ... both for this reason and also because the final wine can be negatively affected in a number of ways by adding lots more yeast than the directions indicate.

As far as adding additional nutrients, as the SG drops, the window of opportunity to add nutrients gets smaller and smaller. If the yeasties are nearing the end of their lives, they might not have time to eat all the nutrients you might add and this would result in excess, unused nutrient floating around in your wine which also invites other problems.
While you could potentially add a fractional dosage of nutrients, as long as your wine is currently fermenting, I would just leave it be.

Did your wine kit include nutrients to begin with? ... did you add them as per the directions? ... did you go buy other nutrients at the brewer/vintner supply? ........ it is a little curious that the kit stalled. In any regard, if it was me I would avoid adding nutrient at this point.

One other thing ... you said this is a Chocolate Raspberry Port.

Port is a very specific type of wine and not one which is as simple as some other wines.
I assume they are not just giving you juice concentrate from one of the 5 or so types of grapes that are commonly used in making port without the rest of the elements for making the wine such as oak chips, and particularly good detailed directions, and possibly the distilled spirits (liquor) which you are expected to add to the fermenting wine to kill the yeast and leave the wine with enough sugar to be a “sweet” wine.

Port is a “fortified” wine ... you add liquor to *kill* the yeast at some point (taking SG readings is how you determine when that is). The directions would be very specific about all this. This kit would be one where you want to follow the directions very closely.

But that having been said, the fact that this is from a pre-established kit, and that it has apparently resumed fermenting, and that you are actively keeping it in a temperature range which the yeast likes ... I would think there is a good chance your wine should finish up fine. Just follow the directions very closely.
 
Had the SG not started to go down though, if I had added another packet of yeast would that help things or would that make it worse? Just curious on how that would work out as well.

Re-reading your last question, I now see you were asking, hypothetically, if the SG had not started dropping would you just add more yeast (not asking if you should necessarily do it now)
If the SG is not dropping then you have no fermentation which means your yeast is not working.
As I mentioned in my previous long post ... nope ... if the yeast didn’t like it the first time, the additional yeast you might add won’t like it any better. The exception is if your original yeast was damaged (age, heat etc) and consequently did not get going.
In any regard, you would do a full evaluation of all the variables, correct any that needed it ... and see if that gets any yeast that is already present and alive in the must to start multiplying.
After having corrected any problem condition ... temperature, nutrients, pH, brix (sugar), oxygenation, and so forth ... then, if you needed to add more yeast you would ... re-hydrating properly and creating a starter etc.
btw: All of those corrective actions start with knowing the conditions that the particular strain of yeast you used, needs.
 
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