still fermenting after 7 days, what to do?

[steve thailand]

i started my brupacs best bitter 7 days ago and according to the instructions, i'm supposed to transfer to a new bucket for clearing after 5-7 days. thing is, there's still quite a few bubble on the surface which i assume means its still fermenting. see pic.

i just took a hydrometer reading and its 1.010, that the only one i've taken. the temperature has been 20deg +/- 1 deg for the whole process. check out my double walled cool box by the way. i change the ice block once a day to maintain perfect temperature.

should i transfer to a new bucket now or wait until the bubbles stop of the gravity stays the same (i will not know that until tomorrow)?

thanks, steve

[steve thailand]

i just found this
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/longest ... ar-134912/

it seems that its not unusual for fermentations to take way longer than 1 week so i guess i should chill out and wait for the bubbles to stop before i move it anywhere. sounds like there is no downside to keeping it in the primary fermenter. does that sound like a good plan?

steve

[Parva]

Who says you're 'supposed' to transfer to a secondary vessel? I personally leave in the primary for 10 days and keg from there but there's no reason why you couldn't bottle from there too. Either way, 1.010 is more than low enough, secondary now if that's your plan or check the gravity again tomorrow and if it's still the same, get it kegged or bottled.

[jubby]

You can leave it in the primary Steve. In some cases, it's good for the beer as the yeast clears up any undesirables. Up to 3 weeks is ok in the primary, any longer and you risk off flavours (in my opinion) Don't get hung up on bubbles on the surface or an airlock. The best way to check if the primary fermentation is complete is to take hydrometer readings. When the gravity remains the same for a couple of days, you can bottle or keg it. 1.010 is a very respectable final gravity for a kit beer, so i would guess that it's all done. I wouldn't bother transferring to a secondary, if it stays at 1.010, just bottle or keg it. If you can lower the temperature a bit more, it will help clear the beer (only do this when you are satisfied that it has finished fermenting) but it's not a big deal if you can't.

Nice fermenting cabinet by the way.

Edit: parva got there first and pretty much sums it up.

[steve thailand]

thanks for the info. i'll do another hydrometer reading tomorrow.

the instructions on the brupaks bag say to transfer to a second bucket and keep there for 2 days before bottling. i assume that is for clearing. i was planing on adding some fining at that stage too because i like my beer very clear. is that not a good idea?

[steve thailand]

ok, thanks all for the great info again. my hydrometer today is 1.010, same as yesterday, so i guess its stopped fermenting. i'll forget about the finings, wait a few more days and bottle then.