higher than expected gravity - rouse or stop worrying?

[monkeyboy]

My 2nd AG has been fermenting away for nearly two weeks now. The first week was the usual madness, but by the middle of this week it had trailed off to not very much at all. I took a SG reading the last two nights, and it's stuck at 1019. BeerEngine was anticipating 1014. I've drunk the samples (doesn't everyone?) and it tastes good, and is clear. So i'm trying to decide whether to rouse or just put it down as one of those things, and move it into a barrel for secondary. Yeast was safale s04. Temp has been approx 17/18 the whole time. Any thoughts?

[dave-o]

At 1019 i would be tempted to give it a rouse.

[gnorwebthgimi]

1019 is a little steep, but if you had a large grain bill, a high OG and/or a high mash temperature then it might not be far off.

What was the OG?
What was the mash temperature?
What was the grain bill?
And what was the amount of wort collected?

[gnorwebthgimi]

oh and S04 usually does the business so it's unlikely to stick but your temp is a little low at 17/18, but should be fine.

You could always try warming it up a little to say 19/20.

[dynamic dave]

You might get infection if you rouse it now I would barrel it and keep checking for secondary ferm kicking in.

[Tinkerer]

Monkeyboy - I'm from the same part of the world and noticed the drop in temp to 17/18 too. May need to dust off the old brew belt again soon.

I'd keg it and keep an eye on it like dynamic dave suggests, but would think twice about bottling.

[monkeyboy]

Thanks all. i meant to put the recipe in and then forgot in my rush (muppet).
very simple one:
5500g pale malt
500g crystal
lots of hops
23l

OG was 1059. I've talked myself into barrelling it, with a little sugar (but not much) to prime, and will just keep an eye on how it's going. no plans to drink this one for a while Think for the next one i'll be back to the aquarium heater to keep it ticking along.

[monkeyboy]

@Chris - next time, i'll rouse the beer. Probably a bade decision on my part. On the plus side, fermentation has kicked in again, cos the barrel has pressure, so either it wasn't finished or as you say, the racking has just encouraged it back to life.

[gnorwebthgimi]

With a 1.059 OG it sounds fine, unless you noticed any particular lack lustre response from the s04 (like a long time to start) then I wouldn't worry. I would keep an eye on it, there is a lot of potential for a long secondary fermentation with a final gravity of 1.019. Have you got an idea of the IBU of this beer?

[monkeyboy]

IBU should be somewhere around 55. When i tried the sample, the balance seemed pretty good - like a good proper English IPA. Will try my best not to touch it for a month at least. Mind you i say that for ever beer i brew and haven't managed it yet