WLP 029 Kolsch Stuck Fermentation

[chewyheel]

The other day I brewed a pseudo Schwarzbier and am fermenting with Kolsch yeast since I don't have a capacity to lager. OG was 1.045 and I was hoping to finish around 1.01. However, 5 days after pitching (with a 1 liter starter made a day and half prior) It's stuck at 1.021. I fermented at the low end of the recommended range, 65 degrees. Since I have moved it to a warmer area, about 72 degrees, and given it a few good shakes to stir things up, however it's still the same. I mashed at 152 for 1 hour.

Should I just repitch another vial? The beer is currently at about 3.2% alcohol.

Also, this is my first time using White Labs, I usually opt for Wyeast but my store didn't have the strain I wanted. I've never had trouble with Wyeast before. I always make a 1 liter starter as well so my process was the same with the yeast being the only change. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[JonM]

What was the recipe? Was it an extract recipe?

I probably wouldn't mess around with another vial. You pitched a fresh healthy starter, so a little more yeast probably won't help much (and you'll be out $7).

FWIW, I kinda like having a low ABV beer around sometimes (esp Orfy's Mild). As long as it's not too sweet, 3.2 might not be so bad.

 

[chewyheel]

It was all grain.

6 lbs pilsner
3 lbs munich I

Added at vorlouf
10 oz blackprinz
8 oz crystal 40

I wouldn't mind a low abv beer either but from past experience when I have bottled beers with a high FG it seems as if they always turn into bombs.

 

[rhys333]

If WLP 029 is anything like WY 2565, it can take a while to complete. My first generation fermentation took 5 weeks, and it kept popping up new krausens. Subsequent generations have finished quickly though.

 

[The_Bishop]

Are you using a refractometer?

 

[pdxal]

Only 5 days in is too early to panic. Give it a few weeks at least.

 

[chewyheel]

Are you using a refractometer?

Yes, I'm using a brix scale one. I've used it before with accurate results as well.

I guess I'll give a while longer and check again.

 

[Morrey]

I use 029 a fair amount and always simply leave it be for two weeks in primary. I don't think of the yeast as particularly "finicky", but the two week cycle in primary should bring you down to 1.010 I'd think. Mashing at the temp you did will leave you with some long chain sugars so 1.010 is my bet.

 

[JonM]

But do you compensate for the presence of alcohol? Refractometers work great pre-fermentation, but not so good post-fermentation. You might have an inaccurate reading.

 

[Morrey]

But do you compensate for the presence of alcohol? Refractometers work great pre-fermentation, but not so good post-fermentation. You might have an inaccurate reading.

Plus 1^^^^. For this reason I use a refractometer exclusively for OG, then a floating hydrometer for FG. Even when using a Brix calculation conversion, I have never trusted that final reading with a refrac.

If the OP is dedicated to the refractometer, Northern Brewer has a handy Brix conversion calculator on their website.

 

[jmill]

Give it some more time. I use 029 as one of my primary strains and have fermented much lowed than 65. That yeast can handle much lower temps and you can do a very good psuedo lager with it. I have done a few very good (m)oktoberfests with it.

 

[chewyheel]

But do you compensate for the presence of alcohol? Refractometers work great pre-fermentation, but not so good post-fermentation. You might have an inaccurate reading.

I haven't considered the alcohol factor, how does that affect the reading?

I usually use a hydrometer but I broke it recently and dug out the refrac that was gifted to me a few years ago. I've only used it on a couple of brews so I'm definitely not an expert with it.

 

[rhys333]

I find the refractometer useless for FG readings. The alcohol makes the readout blurry.

 

[pdxal]

Refractometer readings have to be corrected for alcohol when measuring the gravity of finished beer. Here's a great calculator for correction:
http://seanterrill.com/2012/01/06/refractometer-calculator/

 

[chewyheel]

Thanks for the link, that's a great resource. I'll be buying another hydrometer soon to check and see how it compares to the calculator. According to that caclulator, the beer should be at 1.010.

 

[JonM]

Huzzah!

 

[chewyheel]

I'm happy to report that I got a new hydrometer, and the reading came in at 10.010, just as the calculator predicted. And the beer taste great to boot.