slow fermentation?

[95civiclx]

I brewed an amber ale 14 days ago trying to follow a thread for quick turn around beers. My original gravity was 1.055. The carboy started at 68 degrees while heavy fermentation was happening (it overflowed my airlock). After that stopped the beer has been between 63-66 degrees. I was told that in about 10 days the beer should be done since it was such a simple beer. I even pitched a double helping of s-05 to try to speed things up. It is now day 14 i still have fermentation activity... and the krausen still hasnt fallen.

Is this normal. what can i do to get a faster turn around?

Thanks

 

[Ace_Club]

To get a faster turn around, bring your fermentation temperature to 80F. However, if you don't want your beer to taste like fruit salad, just relax and let your beer do it's thing at that temperature range. Your beer will benefit from being in the primary for 2-4 weeks.

 

[Revvy]

Ace is right, great beer is not a race, it's a slow journey. Everything's fine. The beer will be ready when it needs to be ready. The yeast are in charge, we're not. Most of my beers are 8 weeks from grain til glass. 4 weeks primary and then bottle conditioned/carbed for another month.

 

[95civiclx]

oh ok, sounds good, im just going to sit back and relax. This is my first all grain batch that i temp control. The rest have been fermented @ about 75* (ambient temp here) and have been extract. Those were usually done in a week and a half. Im guessing the lower the temp the slower the yeast works but also the less off flavors is produces ?

 

[Ace_Club]

That is correct.

 

[95civiclx]

almost 4 weeks and still have active fermentation and the year is still at the top... how long is too long?

 

[Vance71975]

I brewed an amber ale 14 days ago trying to follow a thread for quick turn around beers. My original gravity was 1.055. The carboy started at 68 degrees while heavy fermentation was happening (it overflowed my airlock). After that stopped the beer has been between 63-66 degrees. I was told that in about 10 days the beer should be done since it was such a simple beer. I even pitched a double helping of s-05 to try to speed things up. It is now day 14 i still have fermentation activity... and the krausen still hasnt fallen.

Is this normal. what can i do to get a faster turn around?

Thanks

There is little you can do to get a faster turn around, Yeast work at their own pace. The biggest thing you as a home brewer can do for faster turn around is pick a known fast strain, like Nottingham(i have had it take a 1.075 beer too 1.022 in 2 days) and up your temp. Yes you will get more flavors and aromas added from the yeast that way,but if you MUST have if done fast here is the formula, no i make no promise that it will "taste great" but it will be done FAST.

3 times your normal aeration
Fast Yeast strain like Nottingham
Double up on and use yeast nutrient
Keep temp between 76-82

As i said, that will get it done fast but there is a HIGH risk of Phenolic,fusal, and other off flavors. Bottom Line, don't rush yeast and you will get better beer!