Took an FG reading. Feedback please. Picture included.

[Jasper18]

Hey all. I'm 5 days into primary fermentation on a Front Porch Pale ale, and first of all I would like an opinion on this stuff floating on top. It's not a film, and disperses easy. Not sure what it is.

Also: My OG reading was right around 1.048 (target was 1.046) and the FG I just took is at 1.018 and the target is 1.016. Am I done with fermentation? Airlock activity has almost ceased.

 

[FVillatoro]

Hey all. I'm 5 days into primary fermentation on a Front Porch Pale ale, and first of all I would like an opinion on this stuff floating on top. It's not a film, and disperses easy. Not sure what it is.

Also: My OG reading was right around 1.048 (target was 1.046) and the FG I just took is at 1.018 and the target is 1.016. Am I done with fermentation? Airlock activity has almost ceased.

Although the picture is a bit hazy, your beer looks fine. That is probably just yeast/hops/proteins/krausen floating on the beer. At 5 days I'd say that you may not be done fermenting yet.
Check the final gravity in 2 days and see if it has stabilized or it continues to drop.
Your FG is close to your target gravity (which is good).

 

[Jasper18]

Ok thanks bud. Yeah not sure what happened to the picture. When I took it it was crystal clear.

 

[Build]

It looks normal. What temp and yeast did you use? You probably have another 5-7 days to let the yeast finish and clean up.

 

[Jasper18]

The yeast came with the kit and was Muntons Brewers yeast. No specific strain listed. I believe it is an Ale yeast, and ideal temp is 57-77 degrees. I pitched at 75 (too soon I know) and got it down to 66 by the time fermentation kicked off. Since then it's been at 63-65 the whole time.
5 to 7 days? Really? I thought once she's down to FG you bottle.

 

[PGEduardo]

The yeast came with the kit and was Muntons Brewers yeast. No specific strain listed. I believe it is an Ale yeast, and ideal temp is 57-77 degrees. I pitched at 75 (too soon I know) and got it down to 66 by the time fermentation kicked off. Since then it's been at 63-65 the whole time.
5 to 7 days? Really? I thought once she's down to FG you bottle.

Once the FG desired has been reached and it's STABLE for multiple days you should bottle. Patience is the big key in brewing.

Take another reading in 5 days and if it's still at the same FG then bottle it up!

 

[Oginme]

Once the FG desired has been reached and it's STABLE for multiple days you should bottle. Patience is the big key in brewing.

Take another reading in 5 days and if it's still at the same FG then bottle it up!

^^^ THIS ^^^

Especially since you started with a high temp, give the yeast in suspension time to clean up the by-products of their vigorous activity. It will also give the yeast more time to flock and come out of suspension.

 

[Build]

You handled it ok with the temps as long as it didn't spend too many hours in the 70s. Most likely you'll have diacetyl or other off flavors that will need a little time to cleanup. You can bottle after FG is stable for a few days, but the beer will taste better if you let the yeast completely cleanup after themselves. Usually an extra 5-7 days or more for a standard gravity beer. The yeast are still working after the airlock stops. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Jasper18]

Alrighty 5 days instead of 2. Got it. Hope to bottle on Monday then if FG checks out still.

 

[PGEduardo]

Oh, two more things:

-Leave it alone until you check again (opening for peeks raises risk of infection).
-Use an online calculator for priming sugar addition and be prepared to wait AT LEAST 3-4 weeks before testing for carbonation.

 

[Jasper18]

Two more things:
I will certainly leave it alone. This was the first time i cracked it open and it was to get a sample.
I hashed out the priming sugar on another section here. I'm going to use 4oz. Yes 3 weeks till I crack one open.