Fluctuating gravity :S

[christov]

Hi all,

I have just bottled my first brew after leaving it in the fermenter (coopers kit) for 15 days at temps ranging from 18-23 degrees.

The ingredients were as follows:

Coopers English Bitter kit
BE2
Kit yeast
OG was 1.035

The issue I have is that

• a) After 15 days the FG was reached (from day 8-13 it was fluctuating between 1.013 and 1.006). FG at bottling was 1.006
• b) The brew never smelt like beer, even when bottling it smelled sort of like white wine, however when a bit spilled and then dried up it smelt like beer. Weird huh?
• c) I think I may have screwed my carbonation process by not monitoring the temp of the location where the bottles are kept. For the last 6 days the bottles have been at about 16-18 degrees.

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas as to what has gone wrong, if anything?

Cheers,

Chris

 

[slash22000]

The final gravity was not fluctuating between 1.006 and 1.013. I'm not implying you're lying, just that beer doesn't do that. There could be a number of explanations for why your reading was changing. Temperature, gas in the sample, temporary insanity ...

"White wine" smell may be acetylaldehyde, a common off-flavour that smells/tastes of apples. I've heard it described as smelling like white wine by people who don't know much about white wine. It will probably go away after a few weeks in the bottle.

The carbonation is fine. 16ºC is fine.

 

[spryzie]

a) Gravity can't go up and down. My guess is yeast/trub in suspension gave a false reading. I get the same problem in my coopers hydrometer. Mine's even worse because I put hot wort in it and it's a little bendy now.

c) Carbonation will take 2 or 3 weeks is all.

Relax.

b ) No idea.

 

[Phoney]

I've read your post three times now and I fail to see anything wrong.

a - you reached FG and bottled, well done. If couldnt have gone up. Probably just tiny air bubbles under your hydrometer.
b - your beer smelt like wine, but then it smelt like beer, who cares? Wait till it's ready then worry about that.
c - you're not monitoring your temp but you know they have been at about 16 - 18 for the last 6 days? Sounds to me like you're monitoring your temps and they sound perfect.

relax bro


edit: beaten