Fermenter Question again

[Kiltlifter]

It was suggested to me that my fermentation might be all done since it proceeded at about 78F. I'm not getting any bubbles out of the blowoff tube anymore. My intention is to rack to the secondary tonight and attach an airlock while I'm gone. OG was around 1.048. I took a hydrometer reading last night and it was around 1.028. I'll do another this evening.

My question ... if the hydrometer reading doesn't change that would indicate that the fermentation was done. Does that seem right given the hydrometer numbers? On my previous two batches I wasn't "involved" at this stage of the game so don't have any background to judge it against. My worrywort mind says that I didn't have enough yeast or something.

[vendejp]

thats quite a bit below 3% alcohol by volume (its off this chart).... i dont know how you fix... you might be able to pitch more yeast.... wait for these guys to reply

alcohol from gravity chart (http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter9-4.html)

[Brownbeard]

You are just in primary though. Another 2 weeks in secondary may bring that gravity down further.

[wortchillergoal]

I would say that drop is not enough. What style of beer is it? You might try rousing the yeast and check the hydro again in a day or two. Rousing means to gently stir the yeast up off the bottom and back into the beer. DO NOT SPLASH! I simply swril my carboy around. Racking to the secondary migfht also kick start the yeast. If this was a wheat beer, your reading may not be that far off. I would hold off pitching yeast until you rouse or rack and then recheck your reading.

[Kiltlifter]

I'll try the rousing thing and then rack to the secondary before I leave in a few days. Sorry for all the questions but something just doesn't seem right and I'm too much of a newbie at this to figure it out on my own. I'd hate to kill my first solo batch ... especially with something as simple as making beer. :p

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by Kiltlifter
I'll try the rousing thing and then rack to the secondary before I leave in a few days. Sorry for all the questions but something just doesn't seem right and I'm too much of a newbie at this to figure it out on my own. I'd hate to kill my first solo batch ... especially with something as simple as making beer. :p

I think I can speak for everybody when I say don't worry about questions. We all have questions as we try different things. I have asked questions as I heard about things and I have been doing this for about 10 years. The only thing we like more than making and drinking our beer is helping someone esle do the same. Oh, I forgot from a previous thread, we like a little gratuious nudity from time to time.

[ray m]

If I may make a suggestion, Kilt', I hope you did not rack it yet. One rule of thumb that I go by (because I have read it in many publications) regarding finishing gravity is that it should be AT LEAST 35% of the original gravity. Since your OG was 1.048, 35% of 48 (last 2 #'s in the reading) is 16.8 (or 1.017---rounding up for acceptable FG figure). From your reading, only 40% of the sugars have been consumed, instead of the recommended 65%. I would do what the other guys advised and try rousing the yeast back into suspension in the primary. I am skeptical that this will drop your gravity down another 11 or 12 points, though. You MAY have to repitch more yeast, but don't freak out. This particular brew may just take a little extra time and TLC to get it where you want it FG-wise. Don't s*#t-can it!! I guess it figures this was going to happen given that you are on a sort of time constraint, huh??;)