Newbie Help - Stuck/Barrel -Wife wants me to give it up!

Discuss making up beer kits - the simplest way to brew.
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whiteshadow

Newbie Help - Stuck/Barrel -Wife wants me to give it up!

Post by whiteshadow » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:16 pm

Help! Just started homebrew again after 20yrs.

This is my second batch to go wrong, the first died after I discovered that
my new King keg (Microbrewery) was missing a seal.

The second batch appears to have stalled. The story is as follows:-

After the first batch, I brought a bin & airlock (so I could see it
working!). Using a Woodfords Werry kit, it all went well for about a week
with the airlock bubbles dying down to almost nothing. In keeping with the
beer instructions, I transferred the brew to the keg. I was surprised to
find that the density was only 1022 (started at 1046), and nothing like the
1008 suggested in the beer kit. So I didn't add any sugar to the barrel and
left it in the warm (Temp a fairly constant 20-24 degs C / 70-75 degs F) to
see if it would continue to ferment .
It's been there for 5 days now and the gravity hasn't changed.

*Do I add more yeast to finish the job?
*Move it to the cool and see if time makes it drinkable weak beer?
*Add the brewing sugar?
*Give up?

Any help please!.....The Wife is already going off the whole beer in the
bathroom thing!

chopperswookie

Post by chopperswookie » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:30 pm

never give up, thats why the women in our life love us - because we spend so much time, blood sweat and tears trying to perfect the perfect brew. :beer:

AT

Post by AT » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:33 pm

did you try giving it a gentle stir? it might start again. If that fails you could try dry beer enzyme, i don't see why you can't add more yeast. There's lots of advice here stick around and one of the more expierenced brewers will be along to help you

prodigal2

Post by prodigal2 » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:42 pm

Its quite well documented in this forum Wherrys kit sticking. All usualy sticking around the 1,024-1,019 mark. I myself have experienced this problem and the solution I used was pitching another batch of rehydrated yeast, preferably Safale.

the target FG is a bit off, you should be aiming for 1,014-1,011. Its a great beer though the included yeast has a tendancy of being rubbish.


There are a few wherry stuck subjects in the kits section of this forum doing a quick search should help you along. :D

The wait will be worth it, the wherry once conditioned is great. :=P

HTH

whiteshadow

Post by whiteshadow » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:56 pm

Is this the where I admit I have been a complete Ar£e!.

Just checked on some of the bits of paper, and the kit I am using (The stuck one!) is actually Muntons Premium Gold. Sorry!, The Wherry stuck in my mind coz it was the kit that came with the barrel..... The yeast that came with it was indeed rubbish!. I had to add new, when it didn't work.

sparky Paul

Post by sparky Paul » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:29 pm

So is this super-dooper Muntons Gold yeast any good? Or should I use safale?

I've bought a Wherry kit too, and I'm fretting about the yeast now... :wacko:

Sorry to be a nuisance today... :wink:

AT

Post by AT » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:33 pm

no contest, safale wins every time

AT

Post by AT » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:34 pm

i'm taking names for the safale fan club :lol:

sparky Paul

Post by sparky Paul » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:01 am

DaaB wrote:When i've bought it seperately and used it, it has done an adequate job.On a couple of occasions i've used it with a kit, it stuck, for an extra quid i'd get some safale.
Fortunately, I have a few packets of safale which I keep as spares. 8)

Does the Muntons Gold have any redeeming qualities then? Or is it simply not worth the risk?

Confused again... :roll:

beardybrewer

Post by beardybrewer » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:51 pm

How long did you let it ferment? You probably just could have waited a bit longer. Especially when using the yeast included in even the best kit, you must allow it time. I just wait 3 weeks as standard. I also use either a safale or 2 packs of regular yeast. You never know how old/good the yeast that comes with kits is unless you prove it after rehydration with a bit of wort.

prolix

Post by prolix » Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:28 am

I use safale and put the yeast it comes with to good use in a turbo cider

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