Question about gravity and bottling.

[richthrift]

I'm brewing an Irish Stout at the moment. This is coming from an extract kit. The kit states that I should have started fermenting with a gravity of 1.020. Which I did. They say that you can bottle in about a week. I usually wait two weeks before bottling beer I've made from a kit. The kit also states that my final gravity should be around 1.010. I took a hydrometer reading today (exactly 1 week after it started fermenting.) and I am still at 1.020. Should I just wait another couple of days and take another hydro reading or is it safe to bottle now?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

.... wait, the kit said your original gravity should be 1.020?

Something's wrong there.

And as far as bottling, it's safe (i.e. fermentation has stopped) when you take a couple gravity readings a couple days apart and they're the same.

 

[richthrift]

Okay I mistyped haha. Beginning gravity is said to be 1.043-1.045. Its now down to 1.020 though it says the Final gravity should be 1.010-1.012

 

[BobBailey]

Personally, I leave everything in the fermentor(s) for a minimum of 4 weeks. Not only does this give most brews plenty of time to ferment fully, but also allows the yeast to clean up most off flavors.

Patience is definitely a virtue when brewing.

Bob

 

[richthrift]

Personally, I leave everything in the fermentor(s) for a minimum of 4 weeks. Not only does this give most brews plenty of time to ferment fully, but also allows the yeast to clean up most off flavors.

Patience is definitely a virtue when brewing.

Bob

This is quite true. Which is why I usually wait a week more than the directions say when I brew with a kit. I'm just excited about this brew because stouts are my favorite haha. I'm definitely gonna wait and do a couple more hydro tests. I want to get that final G down to at least 1.012. If I bottle now Ill have an abv of just above 3% and I'd like it be at least 5.