slow fermentation

[Aarong2008]

I brewed a DIPA on 6/11 and had an og of 1.072 and checked the gravity today and it's 1.034. I brewed this last minute and I usually oxygenate with pure oxygen and a stainless steel stone but I barely had any left. I shook it as much as I could and put a pindrop of vegetable oil in the wort before I pitched 2 smack packs of London ale 3. I'm curious if I should be worried that the fermentation is slow.

 

[WIBrewer83]

I've had this happen before. In my case, I mashed at too high of a temp, so less fermentable sugars. It ended up being much lower in ABV, but still a good beer.

 

[Aarong2008]

This was an extract. When I take my gravity readings it tastes amazing, I am still hoping it ferments more.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Are you taking the reading with a hydrometer or refractometer? After fermentation has started, alcohol will cause a refractometer reading to be off. There are online calculators to correct the reading. Plugged your numbers into one and the corrected reading was 1.014.

If that isn't it, I would just wait, it should come down more. I don't use pure o2 and my bigger beers always take over a week to finish. If yours usually finish quicker it could be the aeration or the amount of yeast. Assuming it was a 5g batch, 2 smack packs would be an under pitch at that gravity even if they were very fresh.

 

[Aarong2008]

Actually, your absolutely right. I use a refractometer. I just bought it and this is the first batch I have used it on. I'm going to look into those calculators, thats good info. Thanks!

 

[Yeastieboy]

I've made that mistake a few times. Get the 'Ol hydrometer out!

 

[Aarong2008]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. Thank you.