S-04 99% attenuation

[gotbags-10]

I know it sounds crazy. Two identical batches of ipa back to back. Both with OG of 1.065 and FG at 1.001. Both fermented with s-04 ferm temp at 64 for a week and gently raised to 70 over the following week. Checked with two hydrometers and same readings. Tonight I checked both hydrometers in 60 degree distilled water .999 so they are pretty accurate. Here is the beer
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424396525.616665.jpg

Is this possible? Both batches of beer were very dry and bitter. I assume that's because all the malt sugar is gone. How can I avoid this going further or should I just dump using s-04

 

[gotbags-10]

Friendly bump

 

[milldoggy]

What is your mash temp? Try mashing at 154 or higher next time.

 

[Braufessor]

#1 - I usually fill my hydrometer all the way to the top to let it float freely and not touch the sides in case that could cause a reading error.

Personally, I would be a little worried about infection if I had a beer that went all the way down to 001..... other than some kind of sampling or reading error, a beer just does not generally finish that low with regular beer yeast.

What was your grain/extract bill? If all grain, what was your mash temp/process?

It is not simply because it was S-04...... that yeast should not do that if everything else is in order.

 

[The_Bishop]

I'll second the possible infection vote.

 

[Frilock]

How much sugar are you using? If its less than 90% I would have to say either infection or you've discovered some type of gravity anomaly.

 

[gotbags-10]

I had a 13 lb grain bill mostly 2row. Mashed at 151. The hydrometer spun freely in the middle of the jar at 1.001 for a minute before resting on the side but I can take another reading with it sticking out of the top. I'm interested in the infection possibility. My batch before this one was poured out because it tasted pretty funky. It also finished with a Gravity this low. Different beer and different yeast though. But same fermenter. How would I know if I got an infection? It certainly doesn't taste like its infected but then again I don't know what I'm looking for. This current batch is a ZD clone and it doesn't even taste close to the real thing after so many people saying it does. Could it be my fermenting bucket?

 

[The_Bishop]

Could be. Or your transfer tubing, racking cane, or your sanitization procedures. Sounds like an infection and you're transferring it from batch to batch.

 

[gotbags-10]

So trying to eliminate all my possibilities. I've been using the same sanitation procedure for everything and thus far hasn't been an issue or so I thought. I use the same racking cane and tube for all my wine transfers as well and no infections there. Do those ale pales generally have a shelf life? Mine is about a year old and has done probably 8 batches in it. Never used anything hard to clean or stir in it. It does however have some scratches in the bottom. My other thought is that I did open the lid early on in both batches to see if it was fermenting. The lid on it doesn't seal very well so I get no airlock activity. So I open it up to check and see if I have krausen.

 

[Braufessor]

I am not sure, and others will certainly be more knowledgeable than me..... but, is it a good idea to use the same tubing, and equipment on beer and wine??? Just a though of something that jumps out to me.

What are you cleaning and sanitizing with? What is your actual process? Are you taking things ALL THE WAY apart - spigots, siphon, bottling wands, etc.... those things usually come apart into multiple pieces. Some people don't realize that right away.

I had a run of some bad batches 6,7,8 years ago or so.... I threw all my tubing out. Replaced my buckets. That said, buckets should last more than a year if treated properly and cleaned well. Scratches in a bucket can potentially be a problem.

 

[hottpeper13]

I am not sure, and others will certainly be more knowledgeable than me..... but, is it a good idea to use the same tubing, and equipment on beer and wine??? Just a though of something that jumps out to me.

What are you cleaning and sanitizing with? What is your actual process? Are you taking things ALL THE WAY apart - spigots, siphon, bottling wands, etc.... those things usually come apart into multiple pieces. Some people don't realize that right away.

I had a run of some bad batches 6,7,8 years ago or so.... I threw all my tubing out. Replaced my buckets. That said, buckets should last more than a year if treated properly and cleaned well. Scratches in a bucket can potentially be a problem.

+1 on taking it all apart , that solved my problem, found in the spigot.