Strange Activity

[cal]

G'day,
Only on my 2nd kit brew, my first turned out well although I had no activity in my airlock - no problem - i just looked for other signs of fermentation & took hydrometer readings. With my current brew once again there is no bubbling in the airlock. It had an OG of 1043, 3 days later it was 1020. it's currently in its 8th day & the reading has yet to change. Any ideas? should I scrap it or wait it out?
Thanks

 

[Jye]

RDWHAB it just means your fermenter isnt air tight, you will find that some brewers dont even use airlock but just cover the hole with some al foil or a coke lid. Just keep taking you hydro readings :beer:

 

[Keifer]

Umm maybe trying rocking it gently to stir up yeast cake? then waiting a bit more? Don't take my advice tho im only on brew number 9...

 

[cal]

Thanks Jye, Iwas getting a little bit concerned as the reading doesnt seem to have changed in 5 or so days. :beer:

 

[mika]

Seems to have happend with a couple of brews lately Cal. Including one I did. I gave up in the end and kegged it... wasn't a nice beer though.

Give us some more details about your brew. Temps, kit type etc.
With an OG of 1043, an FG of 1020 might not be that bad.

 

[cal]

Thanks for your interest mika_lika, the kit I used was Morgan's stockman's draught w/1.25kg of morgans pale malt. I used the kit yeast and added some challenger hops (taste). The fermenter themometer was reading 26degrees when i added the yeast, after about 3hrs I started to cool it down(wet towel, ice etc) since then i have managed to keep the temp between 20 - 23. I'll take another reading in a couple of days, with this brew i'm looking for an FG of about 1010 - 1012. Cheers. :beer:

 

[NRB]

I agree 1.020 is a tad too high to consider bottling. I also agree with Apprentice_Brewer's advise - rouse your yeast by either swirling the fermenter or stirring with a sanitised spoon... just try not to introduce air if you're stirring.

 

[Trough Lolly]

Thanks for your interest mika_lika, the kit I used was Morgan's stockman's draught w/1.25kg of morgans pale malt. I used the kit yeast and added some challenger hops (taste). The fermenter themometer was reading 26degrees when i added the yeast, after about 3hrs I started to cool it down(wet towel, ice etc) since then i have managed to keep the temp between 20 - 23. I'll take another reading in a couple of days, with this brew i'm looking for an FG of about 1010 - 1012. Cheers. :beer:

[post="117829"][/post]​

Just a question re the recipe...you mention that you used 1.25kg of Morgan's pale malt - that was malt extract, wasn't it? :unsure: And did you end up with 23L in the fermenter or did you do a higher concentrate / lower volume beer???

In the past, I've roused the wort with a sterile stirrer to gently lift the yeast back off the floor of the fermenter and even used a heat pad to bring up the brew a couple of degrees to finish off the beer - but regardless, you need to sit tight, keep an eye on the gravity with your hydrometer and start planning the next beer!

Cheers,
TL

 

[cal]

TL,
yeah it was an extract, i made up to a little less than 23L. I've since given it a bit of a stir & have noticed a little bubbling through the airlock - a first Like you said i'll just keep an eye on it, if it doesnt turn out iv'e still got plenty of my other brew left and look forward to making my next batch. Cheers. Cal