Sticking with HB Malt extract?

[Marshbrewer]

I've brewed 2 kits (Tooheys old dark ale and Black Rock Bock) with 3 jars of HB malt extract each. Both have been left in water baths, i.e. a builders trub, with aquarium heaters at a constant 20 dec C for 2 weeks.

Both have stuck on exactly 1020 I didn't believe it at first so I checked my hydrometer, yup, 1000 in water.


I've re-hydrated a pack of coopers yeast in 200ml of boiled, cooled, water and added it, 100ml per batch, given them a gentle stir with a sterilised paddle, and will wait, but has anyone else had sticking with HB malt extract?

[Hippo]

H&B ME has been fine for me on three brews that I have done with it. Very good I would say.

I have brewed the same way, but with heat at 22-25 oC so maybe that has been the differance or the yeast is old or not up to it?

of those kits two were coopers which ferement out well anyway

[trucker5774]

Have you given the wort a good thrashing to get some oxygen in it at the beginning? Try a different yeast?

[hommebru]

i've had no problems whatsoever with using H&B LME, never had it stick either. and used with cooper's kits with cooper's yeast and sometimes even 4 jars in one brew.

i think your problems lies not with temperature (mine were all brewed at a lower average temp - 18 degrees), but perhaps like trucker5774 says with a lack of oxygen in the wort prior to pitching.

you can expect the FG to be slightly higher when using this product, but even with using 4 jars you should expect a FG of 1.014.

[Marshbrewer]

Mmmm... don't think it was lack of initial oxygen, both kits were given the usual 'damn good thrashing'

It is a weird one. Never had a kit stick before, let alone two at once, but then I usually brew with Coopers.