Stuck Ferment

[PieOPah]

Well, I think that my TC has a stuck ferment.

For a while the gravity seemed to be stuck around 1.042 Eventually after no movement for about 4 days, I sealed the fermenter and gently rolled it about.

This seemed to do the trick and things kicked off again however, it would seem that I am stuck again at about 1.030.

Now I can repeat the process but I thikn that perhaps lack of oxygen might be part of the problem.

Now why is it that I can't give it a good old shake and introduce some more? Surely the yeast would eat this up like it does pre ferment.

Is there anything else I can do to move things along? (the room is warm enough so that isn't a problem....)

Thanks.

[Jim]

Hmm, surely oxygen is only needed during the lag phase of fermentation when the yeast is reproducing. At the stage yours is at, you don't really want any more O2 in there.

Shaking the yeast up might help just by mixing it amongst the sugary solution rather than having it lying at the bottom.

[PieOPah]

I'll give it another mix up in a couple of days if there has been no change.

I feel fairly safe doing this as I can cap my fermenter and roll it about. Since I am so gentle with this there is no 02 mixed in. Besides, there is only C02 in there at this point anyway....

I hope that I can get the gravity to drop. While it works out to be about 4.3% ABV (IIRC) it is way too sweet to drink (I suppose it might be nicer cold).

This is the first time I have every had a stuck fermentation so am a little wary about doing anything

[PieOPah]

I know we shouldn't add 02 after fermenting begins - but why?

[PieOPah]

Just taken another gravity reading and it has dropped to 1.028

The 'mix' I gave it appears to have kick started it back into action. Even if it doesn't drop any further it is a healthy 5%. This makes it an okay sweet cider with plenty of taste. I would like it to be drier but can live with it as is

Sounds like it is still actively fermenting as I can now hear puffs of 'air' comng through the airlock (I have a dry airlock so no bubbles)

[Vossy1]

The yeast is probably p***ed

TC....love it

[PieOPah]

Thanks Daab

[PieOPah]

After rolling my fermenter around a bit the ferment got well and truely back underway. The last check it had managed to drop to about 1.010 and from the sound of the airlock it is still chomping away on that sugar.

I just hope that it starts to clear soon now as I want it to be ready in time for christmas!