First Extract Brew - APA

[BrosysBrews]

This is what I have. http://cheekypeakbrewery.com.au/index.php/measure-and-control?route=product/product&product_id=465&search=temp
No wireing required, I already had a heat belt but can get for about $15 on ebay, that way it switches between fridge and heat belt while you sit back with a beer! I just have the wires going through my fridge door, seals fine but a more permanant install would be nice at some point

 

[J B]

Looks interesting. I need to have a look into my options. I have a mate who is pretty electrically skilled so hoping he might be able to assist wiring in a controller.

 

[J B]

So it's been in the fv for 12 days and I just dry hopped 12g of Cascade (have not had a chance before now). The last 2 gravity readings have been about 1.020 (spread over a few days) so I am guessing it is pretty much done. It got a little cool over the last few days so not sure if this has impacted the last bit of fermentation.

So I am now wondering how long I should leave it before I prime and bottle (was planning on at least 2 weeks but I am flying out of town for a fortnight on the 14th so not sure if I want to leave it in there 4 weeks+)?

Should I chuck a heat pack in there to bring the temp back up a little?

Any advice?

 

[BrosysBrews]

I think you might of stalled the yeast, I would expect to finish more like 1.012 maybe give the heat pad a go

 

[J B]

Yikes. I was hoping it would be okay. Brewmate have me a FG of 1.015 and it's sitting just under the 1.020 mark (just). I don't have a heat pad so I might throw in a heat pack and see if that helps a bit.

 

[Nizmoose]

Yikes. I was hoping it would be okay. Brewmate have me a FG of 1.015 and it's sitting just under the 1.020 mark (just). I don't have a heat pad so I might throw in a heat pack and see if that helps a bit.

Im not sure if this is common practice but I'd ultra wary of the heat pack idea, do you mean physically chuck a heat pack into the fermenter?

 

[J B]

No. The FV is in a bar fridge with a towel wrapped around it. Would just put the heat pack in the fridge next too it. It probably won't elevate the temp for very long but would be the best I can do at present.

If it stays where it is just under 1.020 and I have to just prime and bottle it what are the potential impacts?

 

[BrosysBrews]

No. The FV is in a bar fridge with a towel wrapped around it. Would just put the heat pack in the fridge next too it. It probably won't elevate the temp for very long but would be the best I can do at present.

If it stays where it is just under 1.020 and I have to just prime and bottle it what are the potential impacts?

Bottle Bombs! Which can be very very dangerous! You need to heat it up and maybe give it a swirl to get the yeast going again, can you move it to somewhere warmer? In a room with a heater? I know moving it is not best practice but better then bottle bombs!

 

[Nizmoose]

No. The FV is in a bar fridge with a towel wrapped around it. Would just put the heat pack in the fridge next too it. It probably won't elevate the temp for very long but would be the best I can do at present.

If it stays where it is just under 1.020 and I have to just prime and bottle it what are the potential impacts?

Ahh k yeah that would work, ironically just before reading this I went and checked the temp of my fermentation and its about 3 degrees lower than i want it, its wrapped in a towel and all I'm going to do is heat the towel up with a hairdryer for a while to bring the temp up

 

[Adr_0]

Moving is fine. Don't shake it, but give it some good swirl and let it build up some speed then leave it to suit again. Good luck...

 

[mofox1]

So it's been in the fv for 12 days and I just dry hopped 12g of Cascade (have not had a chance before now). The last 2 gravity readings have been about 1.020 (spread over a few days) so I am guessing it is pretty much done. It got a little cool over the last few days so not sure if this has impacted the last bit of fermentation.

So I am now wondering how long I should leave it before I prime and bottle (was planning on at least 2 weeks but I am flying out of town for a fortnight on the 14th so not sure if I want to leave it in there 4 weeks+)?

Should I chuck a heat pack in there to bring the temp back up a little?

Any advice?

Leaving it is pretty much always fine - months, maybe not, but weeks is cool.

 

[J B]

Thanks folks. I've brought it upstairs and covered it with a few extra towels and stuck a few hot water bottles close by to bring the temp back up a bit. I'll check it again on Sunday and see if the little lads have done a bit more work.

 

[wereprawn]

Hi JB,
When i did extract brews i noticed that boiling all the extract resulted in beers with very little head. Better off using the liquor from the steeped grain( diluted to a gravity of 1040 ) or a small amount of extract and water ( at a ratio of 1:4) for better hop utilization anyway. When the boil is finished, turn off the heat , add the rest of the extract, put in fermentor and top up with tap water.
Cheers.

 

[J B]

So the FV is sitting at about 19C now with some towels wrapped around it. I took another reading today but it is still at 1.020.

What other options do I have?

Should I just give it more time at this temp or can I rehydrate and pitch a small amount of yeast?
Should I just take it to the second FV, bulk prime with a lower amount of dextrose and bottle and hope for the best?

It tastes okay but I am worried now that if I bottle as it I will get some explosions...

Any sage advice would be appreciated.

 

[J B]

Sorry... Should have done my research first...

Found this thread/article. http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/articles/article130.html

Seems pretty comprehensive. I'll give it a little longer and maybe consider racking to a second FV if I still don't get any movement.