Mangrove Jacks Dutch Lager- final SG issue

[Spinxy90]

After a very successful first brew a few months ago I decided to get another one going last week on Friday 19th September. As coming into the summer months I wanted another brew on to get ready and get some beer stocking up.

Decided to do a brew similar to a Heineken and with advice from my local home brew shop went a Mangrove Jacks Dutch Lager with some Hallertau hops steeped and then added.

Brew started really well with the everything added and waited until the brew temp was at about 22c to add my yeast in,SG was at 1.034.

First few days went really well with the yeast working hard bubbling out of the airlock as it should. It was on the Sunday night and Monday morning of 21st/22nd that I noticed a pretty big decline with activity and next to no bubbles moving through the airlock.

Decided to check the SG to see where it was sitting at and was at 1.012, on the can it says not to bottle until it is below 1.008.

Thought I'd leave it a few days and just see what happens, kept the brew between the 18-26c mark over the past week with checks of the SG each day and has been steady at 1.012 since. I've tasted the brew after checking the SG and it tastes good.

Im just a little cautious as top bottling it as the SG is still at 1.012 and not at 1.008 as specified. I am going to be adding some finnings into to clear it up before bottling as well.

Was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on what to do or form their experience as well! Cause I don't want exploding bottles!

 

[indica86]

If the readings are steady, bottle it.

 

[BrosysBrews]

Did you use Brewblend #x or DLME or LME? Normally as they are less fermentable then dextrose which is what the 1.008 would be calculated for they will leave a slightly higher FG. As long as your brew hasn't dropped to much in temp (can cause the yeast to stall) and it has been at the same SG for 24 hours you should be right to go. (I assume you just used the yeast under the lid)

 

[Spinxy90]

yea the readings have been steady for about 3 days now

It was a brew blend #3 I think. and yes it was the yeast under the lid that I used.

I think the ABV is going to be low thought at about the 2.8% mark, lower than I was expecting, was thinking it would be around a 4%

I'll add the finnings and let it sit for 2 days and then bottle it up

 

[BrosysBrews]

yea the readings have been steady for about 3 days now

It was a brew blend #3 I think. and yes it was the yeast under the lid that I used.

I think the ABV is going to be low thought at about the 2.8% mark, lower than I was expecting, was thinking it would be around a 4%

I'll add the finnings and let it sit for 2 days and then bottle it up

when you bottle and naturally carb it adds around 0.5% so you should end up around 3.3% or a mid strength, if you want to try the same recipe again reduce your overall voulme to get stronger beer, will probably have more flvaour too.

Also consider using Safale US-05 yeast at around 18C to give a crisper finish, not quite a lager but close as you can come without a temp control unit at this time of year.