The most stuckiest ferm

[Ravenshead]

I hate to start a thread on stuck fermentation, it makes me feel like a noob. (I am a noob but I don't like feeling like it.)

I made a 3 gallon tester of Graff two weekends ago and pitched with Sa-04. I never saw vigorous fermentation but I get an airlock bubble every 30 sec or so. I even added an additional packet of Sa-04 after four days without kraison.

Took an SG reading today: 1.060--started at 1.070. Ambient temp has been in the high 60's so I don't know what could be stopping my yeast. It's been 9 days.

Recipe was basicallyu 2 gal of apple juice mixed with about 1 lb amber LME boiled in 3/4 gallon H2O.

Any ideas?

 

[android]

did you aerate it? maybe some yeast nutrient?

 

[BrookdaleBrew]

What kind of apple juice did you use? Some of them contain preservatives that can kill yeast.

 

[android]

^^ good call.

 

[DrawTap88]

Very good call on the preservatives. If there weren't any preservatives, you might want to move the fermenter to a warmer place and rouse the yeast to see if it kicks back up.

 

[Ravenshead]

No preservatives, just pasturised. I didn't aerate it since I didn't boil the juice. I would have thought that the action of pouring it into the fermentor would have been enough aeration.

It's worth a try though. I assume aerating now wan't hurt anything.

 

[DrawTap88]

It's worth a try though. I assume aerating now wan't hurt anything.

So long as you didn't add any hops to you it, you'll be ok.

 

[Ravenshead]

Okay, I aerated using pure O2 and an airstone, added yeast nutrient and repitched a pack of S-05. Still not seeing much. I'm starting to wonder if I over-sanitised and have a toxic (for the yeast anyway) wort.

It's only a 3 gallon test batch so it wouldn't break my heart if I had to start over.

 

[Ravenshead]

I went back to the grocery store and read the label on the juice I used. It was packaged to look just like the all-natural fresh-pressed varieties you see in the produce aisle these days. It even had bits of pulp in the bottom of the jug like the natural stuff. However, when I read the back and guess what it said: Sodium Benzoate and Potasium Sorbate.

As usual, you guys are right with the first guess. I guess I'll be tossing this one.

 

[tnbrewer371]

that suckkkkssss..........im dealing with a stuck ferm on a aplewine myself at the moment....or at least i think i am, i havent been home in 4 days and started ferm 5 days ago but at 24 hours in i had no signs of fermentation

 

[Ravenshead]

Did you use the wine yeast?

 

[MikeRoBrew1]

Thanks for being brave enough to post so hopefully some of us can avoid those mistakes. Thumbs up for your next batch

 

[Ravenshead]

Thanks,
Big lesson learned here. Read the ingredients regardless of what the label looks like.