Stuck gravity

[Redbull135]

10.21 i brewed white house honey porter S.G 1.056 2 weeks primary transferred to secondary took reading today 11.13 reading 1.030 seems to have stailed. Temp is around 68 what i have read seems it should finish around 1.010. Any help or thoughts.

Thanks

 

[RM-MN]

Obligatory first question. Did you take the reading with a refractometer of hydrometer?

 

[Redbull135]

Both ways just to double check.

 

[kh54s10]

If your readings are correct, it is too high. If it was still in primary you could swirl to rouse the yeast from the bottom, raise the temperature a few degrees and see if it re-starts. Since you are in secondary (why?) you left tons of yeast behind. You could raise the temperature a bit and see it that works. If not you will need to pitch more yeast.

The use of secondary is a holdover from commercial brewing. Now considered more risky than beneficial. The only reason to do a secondary would be to add something that won't work as well in the primary, fruit or wood chips being the most common. The benefit may be a slightly more clear beer. The risks are infection and oxidation.

 

[Redbull135]

Thanks for the info. I decide to check my refractor against a new hydrometer. Hydrometer reads 1.019 is alot better then previous reading feeling better. Check calibration on refractor and took a new reading 1.030 so tested on another one brewing and that tested 0.010 higher the hydrometer. I will be sticking with hydrometer from this point forward. I was trying to get it to clear up the beer. Thanks for the input.

 

[bracconiere]

All grain, or extract? what was the mash temp, if all-grain? is your thermometer good?

 

[dwhite60]

I'm sure it's been said hundreds of times here but....

... once alcohol has been produced a refractometer is almost useless.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[kh54s10]

With the refractometer, are you correcting for the presence of alcohol. They don't read correctly after fermentation has started. You have to run the number through a calculator. Brewer's Friend has one.

 

[bracconiere]

I'm sure it's been said hundreds of times here but....

... once alcohol has been produced a refractometer is almost useless.

All the Best,
D. White

lol, even in this thread!

 

[mentelope]

Those pesky refractometers! I made the same mistake after getting my refractometer. I love it for pre boil gravity and original gravity, then ya put it away til next time.
I haven't used a secondary for quite some time. Read Yeast, by Jamil Zainasheff, and you'll probably stop using a secondary too. I now leave my beer on the lees for an extra day or two after hitting final gravity. My beer improved immediately. I could see using a secondary for certain post-ferment flavoring, as noted above.