am I stuck?

[texasliam]

I don't know how to calculate attenuation, and I don't know what the value of the calculation should be and therefore don't know if I have a stuck fermantation. Help me out if you can.
My partial mash was pretty low on OG. I think my HBS shorted me on bulk exctract, or, They usally crush the grains for me, and I have this nagging feeling they didn't do it this time. I wasn't paying attention... anyways.,,

6lbs malt extract
2lbs malt
.5 lb crystal malt
WLP001, no starter, just pitched and had a nice fermention going on within 12 hours.

OG 1.033, FG at transfer to secondary 1.018, and it tasted pretty good. It's been in the secondary for 2 days with no action. primary at 72 deg for a couple of days then to 68 deg
It seem to me that the FG should be lower at this point. I think I have a stuck fermentation. Yes?


Thanks Liam

[Vienna Lager]

With 6 lbs. of extract for a 5 gal batch, that alone should have gotten you to about 1.038 or maybe higher. The 2 lbs. of speciality grains would have added just a couple of points and used mainly for color, body, head retention, etc.

Could you possibly have had a misread of the hydrometer? or maybe it isn't properly calibrated.

WLP001 has an attenuation of 73-80% so that times your OG would be from 1.009 to 1.007 but if it tastes good it shouldn't matter.

[texasliam]

Originally posted by Vienna Lager
Could you possibly have had a misread of the hydrometer? or maybe it isn't properly calibrated.

WLP001 has an attenuation of 73-80% so that times your OG would be from 1.009 to 1.007 but if it tastes good it shouldn't matter.

I don't think I'm off on my hydrometer, I double checked the OG and FG. and Ive used it on other batches without problems. How did you come to the calculation of 1.009?

but even if I'm off on the OG, which of course I cant check now, and the FG is 1.018, Thats still a bit high, isn't It?

moral of the story, check your shopping list when you buy suplies from sombody who's drinking beer at the time.
Liam

[Vienna Lager]

1.033 -73% =1.0089 and 1.033 -80% = 1.0066 so I just rounded up a bit.

1.018 is a bit high and maybe if you swirl the carboy a bit that will help and bring the temp up to 73 or even 75 degrees you might see some activity, hence some lowering of your FG.

If all else fails texas, you could always ship it up to me for an accurate 'hands on' analysis. Just kidding, you should be fine in a week or two as the beer finishes out.

[texasliam]

so thats
.033 - (.033 x .73) = target fg?

Update, they hbs says I should stir the wort more before taking a OG reading. I filled the last 3 gallons with a sanitized garden hose. I would have thought that would stir it enough...
The hydometer reads 1.000 on cool water,

Anyways I turned up the heat to 73. The beer tasted pretty good on transfer, not too sweet in my opinion, so I'll hope for the best.

Thanks
Liam


Originally posted by Vienna Lager
1.033 -73% =1.0089 and 1.033 -80% = 1.0066 so I just rounded up a bit.

1.018 is a bit high and maybe if you swirl the carboy a bit that will help and bring the temp up to 73 or even 75 degrees you might see some activity, hence some lowering of your FG.

If all else fails texas, you could always ship it up to me for an accurate 'hands on' analysis. Just kidding, you should be fine in a week or two as the beer finishes out.

[Cosmic Charlie]

You didn't boil 5 gallons of wort did you? If not, I suspect you had enough O2 to ferment out.

[texasliam]

I boiled 2 gallons, then added 3 gallons cool tap water, then airated with a beer stone and an oxygen concentrator I had kicking around.




Originally posted by Cosmic Charlie
You didn't boil 5 gallons of wort did you? If not, I suspect you had enough O2 to ferment out.

[Vienna Lager]

texas, any thing new with your brew today? Any bubbles? is the sleeve up?

[texasliam]

The sleave has been at the top all the time. I'll empty some and see.. Ive watched for 3 mins and havn't seen any bubbles. I'll let you know
1wk primary, about 5th day secondary

Liam

[texasliam]

The sleave is up 1/4" in 4 hours. not much going on there

Liam

[toneyc]

Sleeve? Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

:)
Toney.

[texasliam]

The floating bell in a plastic fermenter. He's trying to figure out if I still have slow fermentation going on.

Liam

[toneyc]

Ah! Gotcha.

:)
Toney.