Stuck Fermentation - HELP!

[floydmeddler]

Hi all,

My current brew is stuck at 1030 and I'm unsure as to what I should do to get it going again. I roused the yeast around 20 mins ago but still the airlock has no activity.

Possibilities why this has happened:

I made a pretty rubbishy starter only 24hrs before pitching. This starter was made using the yeast from 2 bottles of homebrew. The yeast to make that homebrew came from a bottle of Hen's Tooth. I didn't have a stuck fermentation with that brew and it settled at around 1010.

I used 800g of honey. Perhaps some of the sugars aren't fermentable?

These are the only things that come to mind. Could any of them be the reason... and what can I do to get it going again?

Cheers

[flything]

Hi all,

My current brew is stuck at 1030 and I'm unsure as to what I should do to get it going again. I roused the yeast around 20 mins ago but still the airlock has no activity.

Possibilities why this has happened:

I made a pretty rubbishy starter only 24hrs before pitching. This starter was made using the yeast from 2 bottles of homebrew. The yeast to make that homebrew came from a bottle of Hen's Tooth. I didn't have a stuck fermentation with that brew and it settled at around 1010.

How active was the starter? It sounds like you might have underpitched but if it has been fermenting then not sure why that would be the reason it's stopped.

I used 800g of honey. Perhaps some of the sugars aren't fermentable?

Yeah but a lot of them are, especially with all the other nutrients in the wort.

These are the only things that come to mind. Could any of them be the reason... and what can I do to get it going again?

Temperature? Try warming it up a bit? Did you aerate enough?

Do you have any other yeast? If so I'd be tempted to chuck that in.

Hope it works out for you!

Nick

[floydmeddler]

Yep, might have to get some s04 tomorrow. What about yeast nutrient? Would that help at all?

[floydmeddler]

Right, I tried rousing it again last night and it started showing positive signs. Today I got back form work and there was a nice lair of fermentation foam on top where there was none previously. Took another reading and it's still at 1030!!!

Any advice at all people?

Cheers

[flything]

Did you put any more yeast in? If yes but nothing happened then maybe try some additional enzymes. This is quite an interesting link...

http://hbd.org/brewery/library/enzymes595.html

I'm no expert though, hopefully someone who know what they are talking about will be along shortly!

Cheers

[flything]

Actually it appears that there is a faq on this site...

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=6930

Good luck!

[floydmeddler]

Cheers. Will have a go at adding some yeast vit tomorrow if my HBS stocks it. Will also get some saf04. Seems weird that it has foam though... It really looks as though it is fermenting and the air lock is bubbling every 20 - 30 secs. Very strange.

[floydmeddler]

Well, added so4 12 hours ago and... nothing. Need to get cracking with plan D:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

[mctoon]

Well, added so4 12 hours ago and... nothing. Need to get cracking with plan D:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

Save yourself a pound or so ,, search on Ebay for the seller brewshop6,,, his sachets are only £1.30 with free P&P

[floydmeddler]

Was about to buy from him but his postage is 2nd class.

Well, 24hrs later and the s04 hasn't made much difference. Gravity is at 1026 now. What a nightmare!

[PureGuiness]

It's only been 24hrs since you pitched the S-04. It can take that long for the yeast to get up to speed and 1026 is lower than 1030 so I'd say that's a good thing. Let it do it's stuff and keep checking the SG. It will probably keep dropping now.

[JammyBStard]

Not brewing at a lowish temerature in a shed or garage are you??

[floydmeddler]

PG. I've just checked and it's at 1018 so me reckons you're right! Still a little high but I reckon it just might plummet further if I let it sit. No need for the yeast vit after all I hope.


JB, I'm brewing in my front room where I normally do it. I'm officially blaming a crap starter made from secondary yeast for this one.

[floydmeddler]

Yesterday at around 5:30pm it was at 1016 so I roused the yeast and this morning it has reached 1012. Glad I didn't have to use any beer enzyme. That's it all sorted... Damn that was stressful.

[Scooby]

Yeast propagated from bottle conditioned beer normally goes like the clappers 2nd time round so your probably right about the small starter. Glad it worked out in the end