Should I transfer now?

[Wulfonce]

I'm brewing a Barons Red Wood Ale kit. Its just finished the first part of fermentation. The instructions say after 3-6 days the specific gravity should be 1.020 or less. Well its not. Its more like 1.180. There is hardly any bubble action in the air lock so I suspect the fermentation is done or close to it. It's been 7 days. Should I make the transfer into the carboy or wait a little more. The specific gravity hasn't changed over the last 3 days.

This is my first brewing attempt and I don't want to screw it up. What should I do?

 

[ChshreCat]

I'm brewing a Barons Red Wood Ale kit. Its just finished the first part of fermentation. The instructions say after 3-6 days the specific gravity should be 1.020 or less. Well its not. Its more like 1.180. There is hardly any bubble action in the air lock so I suspect the fermentation is done or close to it. It's been 7 days. Should I make the transfer into the carboy or wait a little more. The specific gravity hasn't changed over the last 3 days.

This is my first brewing attempt and I don't want to screw it up. What should I do?

1.180? I'd have to say that's about impossible. Sure you didn't read your hydrometer wrong?

 

[Yooper]

I'm guessing you meant 1.018? That is less than 1.020. You can transfer it if it's done. Since the reading hasn't changed in three days, I'd go ahead and transfer it.

 

[Wulfonce]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong. My hydrometer goes from top to bottom:

-80
-90
-1.000
-10
-20
-30
-40 ect.

Its showing just above the "20" mark. I would call it 18 but assuming it's at 20 would that be 1.020 or 1.200?

 

[mikebowman]

yep, you're reading it wrong. if its just above the 20 mark, you're probably at around 1.018. go for it!

or read the zillions of threads here debating whether or not to even use a secondary. personally, my roommate and i do because it makes us feel more involved in the process, even if it doesn't make too much difference in the beer.

 

[Wulfonce]

yep, you're reading it wrong. if its just above the 20 mark, you're probably at around 1.018. go for it!

or read the zillions of threads here debating whether or not to even use a secondary. personally, my roommate and i do because it makes us feel more involved in the process, even if it doesn't make too much difference in the beer.

Ah! ok, well everything's fine then. :rockin:

 

[HABIT]

Your good to go . . . You are at 1.018 and close to what your kit instrustions say it should be. Wait till the little piece of paper slides around in your hydrometer.

Its BEER not Rocket Science. :rockin:

 

[ChshreCat]

You'd also be just fine leaving it for another week or so to let the yeast clean up after themselves before you transfer.