Kit fermentation times - are they just 'aving a larf?

[spikey]

Right now, my second kit is on day 14, it's down to 1014 and it's still fermenting. It's a Woodforde's Nog, and of course the instructions say 4-6 days

Am I correct in assuming that all/most kits take a fortnight or so even at a constant 20°C?

And if so, does anybody know why the makers persist with this BS about fermentation times?

[timbo41]

Cos they aint got a clue! I suspect it may well be a cynical ploy to get people into hobby..but then I might just be cynical!

[spikey]

I suspect it may well be a cynical ploy to get people into hobby..but then I might just be cynical!

That makes two of us!

[sbond10]

I sure my milestone didn't have a set amount of days to brew just a sg and an aprox fg once it's been stable for 3 days

[bellebouche]

A frequently asked question... some experience and advice.

You don't state the OG of the wort before you added your yeast. If it was higher (you're making a kit so might not have diluted back fully) then you FG may be higher than expected.
Oxygenation. You don't expand on your oxygenation technique before you pitched your yeast - this will have an effect on the lag phase and yeast reproduction before they start the job of consuming the sugars in your wort.
You don't state the type of yeast you're using. If it's a packet dried yeast that was supplied with your kit then all bets are off. It will likely have a lower viability than you might expect... you can not know the storage conditions or age of that yeast before it got to you.
Wort makeup. It's a kit... so it should be consistent but nutrient levels and sugar profiles vary all the time... that's the nature of brewing beer!
1014 - that's not bad, you say 'still fermenting' so give it time and wait for a few days of stability before testing again. If it's still 1014 in 5 days then you're done. Don't sweat the numbers though... just go by taste.

Best upgrade tips for a kit?

Toss the supplied yeast, buy a specific (fresh!) sample and if it's dried then rehydrate it as per the manufacturer's guidance. Your yeast count and viability will be the highest possible.

[Rookie]

Right now, my second kit is on day 14, it's down to 1014 and it's still fermenting. It's a Woodforde's Nog, and of course the instructions say 4-6 days

Am I correct in assuming that all/most kits take a fortnight or so even at a constant 20°C?

And if so, does anybody know why the makers persist with this BS about fermentation times?

Most beers of modest gravity are pretty much done fermenting in 4-6 days, but the yeast does other things after fermenting that make it a good idea to leave the beer in the primary longer: reabsorbing fermentation by products produced by the yeast. I won't go less than two weeks, usually 3 or 4.

[CdFdevil]

Hello!

Re: Rookie - I'm on my first kit and after reading your reply am I right in thinking I should now let it sit for 3-4 weeks before bottling?

Also, do you add tanning? If so, when? After initial fermentation (a week) or a couple of days before bottling (whenever that is! lol)

Thanks!

[sbond10]

Hello!

Re: Rookie - I'm on my first kit and after reading your reply am I right in thinking I should now let it sit for 3-4 weeks before bottling?

Also, do you add tanning? If so, when? After initial fermentation (a week) or a couple of days before bottling (whenever that is! lol)

Thanks!

No tannins added into beer that's wine I believe the only thing you do after fermentation is to prime the bottle s

[wbosher]

I've had a heat belt around my kit to assist with fermentation, which is now complete - it took about a week. I'm going to leave it for a few more days to a week to allow clean up etc...

Should I continue to keep the heat on (about 22c at the moment) or take it off and leave it at room temp for the final few days? During the day when no-one is home could go as low as 13c or so, then warm up to about 18c when we're home.

[Cozzyb]

Got to say I brew for 2 weeks to let it clear out, finish etc, never had a kit actually ferment for 14 days, strange, maybe it got stuck at some point?

[orlando]

Should I continue to keep the heat on (about 22c at the moment) or take it off and leave it at room temp for the final few days? During the day when no-one is home could go as low as 13c or so, then warm up to about 18c when we're home.

I was wondering about how the hell your temps were getting down to 13c at the moment, then noticed it was winter for you.

Temperature is the most crucial element for yeast and consistency is key. Even though the fermentation is over the yeast are still clearing up so keep the heat on till you have 3 days of consistent hydrometer readings.

[techtone]

Right now, my second kit is on day 14, it's down to 1014 and it's still fermenting. It's a Woodforde's Nog, and of course the instructions say 4-6 days

Am I correct in assuming that all/most kits take a fortnight or so even at a constant 20°C?

And if so, does anybody know why the makers persist with this BS about fermentation times?

Depends how you think it is still fermenting. If you are going by bubbles in an airlock, then it is probably just co2 coming out of suspension and was finished a few days ago, unless you have been checking the gravity regularly and it has only just got to 1014.

[spikey]

Right now, my second kit is on day 14, it's down to 1014 and it's still fermenting. It's a Woodforde's Nog, and of course the instructions say 4-6 days

Am I correct in assuming that all/most kits take a fortnight or so even at a constant 20°C?

And if so, does anybody know why the makers persist with this BS about fermentation times?

Depends how you think it is still fermenting. If you are going by bubbles in an airlock, then it is probably just co2 coming out of suspension and was finished a few days ago, unless you have been checking the gravity regularly and it has only just got to 1014.

I check by SG and by shining a torch onto the surface and watching for bubbles. With this kit (Nog), there were still bubbles rising on day 16, but they'd stopped on day 17. SG had been reading steady at 1014 for the last 3 days.

[CdFdevil]

Hello!

Re: Rookie - I'm on my first kit and after reading your reply am I right in thinking I should now let it sit for 3-4 weeks before bottling?

Also, do you add tanning? If so, when? After initial fermentation (a week) or a couple of days before bottling (whenever that is! lol)

Thanks!

No tannins added into beer that's wine I believe the only thing you do after fermentation is to prime the bottle s

I meant finings..!

[cellone]

With the hops and malts I add to my kit's it tends to look like oxtail soup but always settles out. Much happier with fish in a pan or on my hook than in my beer (finings do not taste of fish).