14 days and still going

[likesbeer]

I put a Tom Caxton best with 500g dark DME and 500 unrefined molases sugar and a small splosh of dark treacle.
It started at 1050 shot down to 1020 in 3 days and then has been at a snails pace ever since.
Its still ferementing 14 days later, I need to check gravity today and will do shortly but its still bubbling and creating enough CO2 in a day to push the lid up which I have snapped shut now, no airlock on this.

Should I start to worry about off flavours from the yeast?

I dont have anything else to rack it off into other than the barrel its destined for, so the option for racking off would be to transfer to barrel, clean FV out and return the beer.

Is this a bad idea, is it likely to have more chance of oxidising or catching a cold?

Or should I just sit tight stop worrying and wait for it to finish?

Cheers

[likesbeer]

OK so measured gravity its only down to 1012 which means that for a week its lost only 8 points so dropping at the best part of a point a day. At this rate thats another week to get to somewhere near the recomended 1006 kegging gravity.

That will mean it will sit on its yeast for 21 days is this going to be bad?
Should I just risk it a keg it?

Help please!

[geordieshaun]

i'm not certain, but would the treacle not cause it to have a higher FG? The Dark DME may cause it to finish higher aswell?

If it was my brew i'd keg it if it stays at 1012 for a couple more days.

Shaun

[likesbeer]

Thanks shaun, lets hope it sits still for a couple of days

[likesbeer]

So checked it yesterday and got about the same reading so although it seems to be generating CO2 (enough to push the lid up on the FV and need burping twice a day) I decided to barrel.
However, think its nackered on Sunday it was tasting like a best every brew (well at only no:3 its not to difficult to be the best ever) but tasted when barrel and its developed a hard bitter edge, is this the yeasty going bad?

Also this was the first time I used the highly praised S04 and have a layer of jelly like yeast in the bottom of the FV rather than the usual powdery sludge is this normal for S04?

I hope its not b*gger*d as it was shaping up to be a good sup.

Cheers Shaun, I wasnt expecting it to fully ferment and perhaps end a little high just the snail paced progress threw me a little and the constant look that it was fermenting.

As always looking forward to the opinions of you all and some reassurance its not kna**ered

[sparky Paul]

So checked it yesterday and got about the same reading so although it seems to be generating CO2 (enough to push the lid up on the FV and need burping twice a day) I decided to barrel.

CO2 keeps coming out of suspension for a good while after the fermentation is finished, that's why an airlock isn't a good indicator of fermentation.

However, think its nackered on Sunday it was tasting like a best every brew (well at only no:3 its not to difficult to be the best ever) but tasted when barrel and its developed a hard bitter edge, is this the yeasty going bad?

I would be inclined to sit tight, give it a few weeks, and keep your fingers crossed.

Also this was the first time I used the highly praised S04 and have a layer of jelly like yeast in the bottom of the FV rather than the usual powdery sludge is this normal for S04?

Yes, it often sets in the bottom, a bit like wet blancmange...

[sparky Paul]

its developed a hard bitter edge, is this the yeasty going bad?

Would you say it tasted of anything in particular, by the way?

[likesbeer]

Didnt taste of anything particular just very bittery (as the boss put it), if it wasnt for the tast on Sunday which was quite smooth, and you could get the malt and the sweetness from the unfermented I would have put it down to the satchet of hope enhancer that came with the kit and earlier on had a taste of the hoppy bitterness. But that had pretty much melowed out by Sunday.
Difficult to describe a harsh bitter taste that doesnt remind you of anyting in particluar

I'll try to ignore the bubbles next time and just go on gravity measures.

Lets hope it smooths out, blamange is a good description but didnt look as inviting to eat

Cheers for the advice sparky, I'm also a little worried that its not going to second ferment and pressurise in the barrel as it was very clear when I transfered. maybe I worry to much and should relax more.

[sparky Paul]

Cheers for the advice sparky, I'm also a little worried that its not going to second ferment and pressurise in the barrel as it was very clear when I transfered. maybe I worry to much and should relax more.

You worry too much... relax more!

No matter how bright, I've never had a beer fail to carbonate. It is a bit worrying when nothing happens for a few days, but it will get there - it just might take a bit longer. You might want to put a bit in a small PET bottle, you can then check the progress of your beer by giving it the squeeze test... it's quite reassuring when the bottles go nice and solid.

Hopefully, the bitterness will mellow out.

[likesbeer]

More beer thats whats needed, then I'll relax
Its starting to carbonate as gave the rubber on the relief valve a little squeeze and it gave a satisfying hiss, wizz noise
I'll leave in the warmth till the weekend then pop in the shed to cool down for a few weeks.
it'll get chance to condition as we go away for a little while so hopefully perfect when we get back