My first stuck fermentation

[reese9885]

So this is one of those firsts thats not a good thing.. I brewed up an English Brown Ale on St. Patricks day ( probably should of went with something more Irish..) But the ingredients consisted of:
10lbs of Maris Otter
4lbs of English Brown
1oz of Fuggles
And lastly used WLP002

End came out to 5 gallons with an OG around 1.045.. after little over a week, I took a gravity reading at 1.027. I left it in there for another week and a half and tested last night and it only dropped down to 1.025. I did end up rousing it alittle last night using the inside tube of my racking cane (sanitized of course)..So my question is what should I do from here. Know I should wait a few and see if the rousing got the fermentation rolling again but if it didnt? I do have some US-05 on hand could rehydrate that in a large starter and tosing that into the secondary to see what happens but if anyone has any other suggestions Im open to ideas....

 

[Calder]

I'm struggling with 14 lbs of grain and OG for a 5 gallon batch is 1.045.

45 x 5 = 225 points. Using 14 lbs of grain that equals 16 points per lb, or somewhere around 44% mash efficiency. Is that really what you are getting?

Are you sure your OG was correct.

 

[brew_ny]

what are you using to check your FG? what temp did you ferment at?

what is the temp. now? what temp did you mash? for how long?

how much yeast did you pitch? was it dry or re hydrated?

a bit more info would help us to help you

all the best

S_M

 

[reese9885]

Sadly thats what my refractometer read.. I been having issues with my efficiency lately... I actually been thinking about buying a new one with how off I been.

 

[brew_ny]

Sadly thats what my refractometer read.. I been having issues with my efficiency lately... I actually been thinking about buying a new one with how off I been.

try a hydrometer and your FG should be right, they do not work so well with alcohol are hydrometer easier to use at that point

 

[Calder]

Refractometers are not accurate for FG measurements, a new one will not make any difference. You can use a calculator to estimate your FG, but that does rely on an accurate OG measurement.

Some people like refractometers for FG measurements and are fine with the results from the calculators; personally I don't trust them.

That is a big efficiency issue, if your numbers are correct. You could get the same gravity from using 8 lbs of grain, and you would have a lot more sparge water to get higher efficiency.

 

[reese9885]

Actually your right about the same numbers... i been upping my grain bill everytimw i brew and been getting 1.045 pretty much every time... I ordered a Hydrometer last night so hopefully it fixes my readings

 

[JonM]

I have found 002 to be a little finicky. (I really like it and I use it often; it just takes a little more care than other strains.) the problem (as I understand it) is it flocculates hard, which can cause it to drop out of suspension early resulting in incomplete fermentation. When use it, as soon as the really vigorous fermentation starts to slow down (which can be as little as 12 hours after pitching) I slowly warm it up to around 68-70. The increased temperature seems to help it finish the job.

 

[reese9885]

I read the same before I used it... I kept it in my basement which is around 62-65 the first week then moved it upstairs where I have it at 68-70.. Figured the temperature I had down hopefully and my readings are just bad.

 

[Calder]

I just plugged your numbers into my refractometer calculator. It is supposedly calibrated to my instrument, so the result may be a couple of points off.

With an OG of 1.045, and a FG Brix reading of 6.1 (I'm guessing that is what you got - you didn't actually say), the calculated FG is 1.011, with 4.4% abv.

Doesn't sound stuck to me.

 

[reese9885]

Well I checked it again (with refractometer.. hydrometer not here yet) guess its moving.. down to 1.023.. any ideas on when should I move it to secondary? Going on 3 weeks on Tuesday.

 

[flars]

I would leave the beer in the primary until you can confirm FG has been reached with the hydrometer. Moving to a clearing vessel may stop any further fermentation.

 

[JonM]

And 002 flocculates so thoroughly, you will get great clarity without a secondary.

 

[Bamsdealer]

If I had to bet, I'd guess your thermometer is off. It would explain your issues with this batch and your poor efficiently lately. I've never heard of a stuck ferment on a beer with such a low gravity.

My guess if your thermometer is reading a good ten degrees or more off. Place your probe in a glass full of ice water and a pot of boiling water. It should read 32 and 212 respectively.

If that's not the issue you may want to re examine your brew process. You should be getting better than 44% efficiency just using the first runnings and topping off with water.