Secondary Fermentation - 9 Days In And Not much Pressure

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BigStripeyCat

Secondary Fermentation - 9 Days In And Not much Pressure

Post by BigStripeyCat » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:17 pm

Hi all,

I have my first brew (Woodforde's Wherry) in my King Keg Top Tap and it should have completed it's secondary fermentation (it's had 9 days). But when I open the tap, the beer only dribbles out.
When I transferred the brew, I added 80g of sugar to some water, boiled it in the microwave oven, allowed it to cool, as suggested in numerous threads, and added it to my KK.
Should I try the secondary fermentation again or should I inject CO2 when needed?

Also at the time I added the sugar, I also added some Beer Brite finings but my brew is still cloudy. I do intend leaving it for the full 4 weeks :cry: to mature so maybe it will clear on its own.

Any suggestions of how I should proceed would be gratefully received.

... and by the way I'm quite pleased with the taste. :D

stevezx7r

Post by stevezx7r » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:10 am

It could be that your KK isn't sealing. Try greasing the O rings and threads with vasaline making sure it doesn't come into contact with the beer.

Give it another week, if it still isn't producing any c02 you could force carb it.

BigStripeyCat

Post by BigStripeyCat » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:45 pm

Thanks Steve,

I forgot to mention that I had put vaseline on the lid seal and the thread of the barrel.

I will give it more time.

BigStripeyCat

Post by BigStripeyCat » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:50 pm

I've just had a thought, if I do force carb it, is there a chance of doing some damage as there won't be much head room in the barrel. I only have the CO2 bulbs and I believe they're all or nothing.

BigStripeyCat

Post by BigStripeyCat » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:35 pm

I found the reason for the lack of pressure, there was a rubber seal missing from the valve on the lid. I bought a new rubber and started the secondary fermentation again by adding more sugar. That was 8 days ago (36 days into the brew) and I now have pressure in the barrel :D, the problem now is that the beer's cloudy :( whereas after the first secondary fermentation it was flat but fairly clear. Am I just being impatient?

p.s. The barrel is in the garage which is the coolest place I have.

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