Weird noob questions

[HeadStrong]

I'm on only my third batch of extract brewing. The first one went so well but I haven't gotten it right since. The second batch was my fault, leaving it in the primary for 6 weeks because I was moving and didn't have time. This batch is really puzzling me.

I started brewing in an apartment but now am in a house and so I messed up my temps. I am brewing coopers international draught with coopers LME. The initial temps were good and then I put it in the basement closet. 3 weeks later and the temps were so cold the temp doesn't even register on the thermosticker. The beer smelt very alcoholic and tasted very very sweet and malty. Also it was very very dark. Basically it looked the same as it did 3 weeks ago. I brought it upstairs, got it to a reasonable temp (70) and left it. I didn't notice any change so I pitched more yeast. The next day I had yeast rafts and the smell was getting more beery. Now a week later it's gotten below the thermosticker again and I'm just noticing that there is probably a gallon of beer missing. It couldn't have evaporated, but I don't think I forgot to put it in either. Am I crazy?

TLDR- beer was fermenting too cold. Beer missing a gallon



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[NTXBrauer]

You were definitely trying to ferment at too cold a temperature, which halted the fermentation process all together. You definitely need to bring the temp of your FV up to around 68 degrees to complete the process. Have you taken a gravity reading lately? This is the only way to tell if fermentation is complete.

I don't have an answer regarding the missing gallon. I am positive you didn't lose it to evaporation. Do you have a room mate that likes to drink beer?

 

[IvanBrew]

You were definitely trying to ferment at too cold a temperature, which halted the fermentation process all together. You definitely need to bring the temp of your FV up to around 68 degrees to complete the process. Have you taken a gravity reading lately? This is the only way to tell if fermentation is complete.

I don't have an answer regarding the missing gallon. I am positive you didn't lose it to evaporation. Do you have a room mate that likes to drink beer?

Or a puddle somewhere?

and +1 on fermenting too cold. I know you were below temp on the sticker, but what would you "guess" the temp to have been?

 

[HeadStrong]

If I had to guess I would say it was in the 50s or 40s. I'm in ontario canada and it's been brutally cold. Minus 20 without windchill. The house is set at 68 but some rooms are warmer than others.

I think I might add a gallon of water now and see what it does. I could very well have forgotten to at the beginning.


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[IvanBrew]

50's probably isn't enough to drop yeast out of suspension, but 40's probably is, especially if it was for an extended time...

Did you take an initial gravity reading? Can you take on now?