Fermentation

[Guzluka]

Done a beer kit last monday so has been 7 days and still a layer of krausen over it so presuming still fermenting. Seems a little on the longside so was wondering whether it was stuck? Seems to be reducing head slightly but very slowly if at all. Is it stuck and if so what do I do?

[Jerry Cornelius]

First you need to know if it's finished, and the best way is to measure the gravity with a hydrometer. If you don't have one, probably a good idea to get one.

This viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3523 will give info about stuck fermentations. Good luck

[Guzluka]

I have got a hydrometer but didnt think id check because the ber still has a line of co2 that has not dropped yet. Is it ok to check with this line of c02 still on it or does the c02 line mean its not finished?

[dedken]

You can stick your hydro in at any time to get a reading - just make sure it's sterile. You might want to leave it in the brew and check every day to see if your SG is dropping. On the kit box there should be an indication of what expected FG should be - check your reading against this. And do read the post above on stuck fermentations, it's well worth it - sorted my recent problems out!

[markbrannan]

It might be done - but it might be not done. In my experience, when it comes to bottling time, the "head" on the fermenter is away, or is very little - but it isn't unusual for kits to take longer than 7days, even at high temperatures.

The magnum strawberry cider (in my signature) took 14days at 24C.

Wait some more and check at 10, 12 and 14days.

However, I have found that the REAL test to see whether or not a brew is done is to look at the lid. When its fermenting, it is bowed outwards, with the extra co2 pressure - but once it has finished, the lid will drop back down to the way it normally sits (bowed slightly inwards).

The only exception to this rule, that i've had, was the coopers european lager that i'm brewing - it stopped and started again several times before bottling, and it took 21days at ~15C.

[scottmoss]

The magnum strawberry cider (in my signature)

Hello,

What do you think of the Strawberry Cider?? I was very interested in getting this kit soon and wondered if it was any good?

Thanks in advance!

[markbrannan]

What do you think of the Strawberry Cider?? I was very interested in getting this kit soon and wondered if it was any good?

Yes, it is good... BUT, you have to leave it for at least three weeks in the bottle - before then its terrible, seriously terrible.

The can is full of red grape concentrate, rather than a strawberry concentrate, and comes with a strawberry flavouring sachet. I put in two tins (soup-sized) of strawberries in grape juice (from Morrisons - they were ~50p each) as well.

However, until about three weeks in the bottle, it tasted like wine - bad wine.

But rest assured, the taste and the smell does disperse, and it leaves it really nice. Not overpoweringly strawberry-ey, but nice enough to drink. Its really clear, and a really nice red colour - a bit like the colour of Jacques fruit ciders, but a bit lighter. When I make it again (I have another kit in my cupboard) i'm going to add strawberries from a punnet, and mash them up a bit, to try and get it to taste like strawberries. Oh, and a lower ABV - this one turned out at 7.1%

But its still tasty enough that I drank myself sick with it a couple of weeks ago