Quick Gravity question

[verno]

I am brewing a lager that has been in primary 8 days now. I have taken a gravity reading of 1012 and that hasn't changed in 48 hours (give or take a tiny bit).

My question is can I bottle it or should I wait for it to get sub 1010? I will be bottling it straight away and am worried about exploding bottles (thought I will be using PET).

[PMH0810]

I guesstimate yeast to attenuate to 75% so it'd all depend on the starting gravity.

If, after rousing (see the "help, my beer's stuck" thread) there's still no movement I'd personally assume it was done and bottle.

[verno]

Ok, I have roused the yeast and will give a day or to to see. One question, if I bottle it then will it carbonate when I prime it. I ask because if my yeast is stuck then when I prime it do I not the yeast to work to create the carbonation.

Or have I got it wrong and carbonation will still work if I bottle it?

[PMH0810]

I would have thought the addition of the priming sugar along with the rousing of the yeast in suspension by bottling would enable carbonation.

[booldawg]

The only trouble with stuck fermentations and priming is the new activity caused by priming usually encourages the yeast to finish the job on the unfermented sugars causing over carbonation.

1012 isnt outrageously high for a terminal gravity, if you've roused and still no activity I'd be inclined to bottle making sure you also use a plastic 500ml screw top bottle so you can squeeze the sides; if it gets rock hard and rings like glass when you tap it then its over-carbonated.

[verno]

ok, thanks for the info. This is my first brew which is why I am unsure and why I don't have the yeast vitamins or spare yeast.

When I do my next kit purchase I will buy the other things to, but I live in london and there are no HB shops in my vicinity so its all online purchasing for me.

[ADDLED]

Hi Verno, I know what you mean about the lack of supplies in London; 8 million people and it seems like only 20 of us brew beer.

Where are you in London? Im in SW and its a 20 min scoot to Art of Brewing just off the A3 in Chessington. If youre further afield they deliver on overnight, their nbr is 020 8397 2111. Theres also a homebrew shop in Sunbury area, though cant remember what its called.

Good luck mate.
Obi

[verno]

Obi,

I live in SE London. I did an internet search and thought there was one in Charlton but it has closed down. Its frustrating, but I guess most of London live in flats and there isn't really room for a HB kit.

It does seem a bit ironic that with that many people there isn't one shop though.

Verno