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Author Topic: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation  (Read 3265 times)

Offline travjohn92

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Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« on: August 27, 2012, 05:46:45 pm »
I brewed a Belgian Wheat IPA on Friday (8-24-12) from the kit the Austin Home Brew.  My OG was 1.070 which was on target and I pitched 2 WYEAST Belgian Strong Ale 1388.  Fermentation started within 12 hours and was kicking until this morning.  I opened up the carboy and there was no evidence of any real noticeable fermentation as the top fermenting yeast cake I guess had begun settling to the bottom.  I took a gravity reading and it was at 1.028.  It has only been 3 to 3/12 days since I brewed this batch.  Is there reason to be concerned?

Here is the recipe:
7lb Belgian Pilsen Malt
6 LBS White Wheat
1/2 lb Aromatic Malt
1/2 lb Flaked Wheat.

Mashed for 1 hour at 154 then mashout for 15 minutes at 168.  Fly Sparged for 1 hour using 170 degree water.  60 minute boil.

Thank you in advance!
Primary: Belgian Wheat IPA, Vlad the IPAler
Secondary:  Iced Oatmeal Dunkelweizen
Kegged:  Baron Von IPWEIZEN, Dunkelweizen
Bottled: De Perverse Monnik Tripel
Next Up: Bog Nog Black IPA, Wake N Bake Clone, Breadbasket Wheat

Offline majorvices

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Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2012, 07:04:49 pm »
was the fermentation temp steady? What temp did you start the fermentation at? What temp did you hold the fermentation?

Offline travjohn92

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2012, 07:59:13 pm »
I have a swamp cooler set up.  I pitched the yeast at 69 and it has hovered the entire time between 71 and 73.

I have an IPA right next to it in another carboy with the same swamp cooler setup and its temps have remained just like the Belgian Wheat IPA
Primary: Belgian Wheat IPA, Vlad the IPAler
Secondary:  Iced Oatmeal Dunkelweizen
Kegged:  Baron Von IPWEIZEN, Dunkelweizen
Bottled: De Perverse Monnik Tripel
Next Up: Bog Nog Black IPA, Wake N Bake Clone, Breadbasket Wheat

Offline Mark G

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2012, 07:15:42 am »
How are you measuring gravity? Hydrometer or refractometer?
Mark Gres

Offline travjohn92

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2012, 08:18:03 am »
Hydrometer
Primary: Belgian Wheat IPA, Vlad the IPAler
Secondary:  Iced Oatmeal Dunkelweizen
Kegged:  Baron Von IPWEIZEN, Dunkelweizen
Bottled: De Perverse Monnik Tripel
Next Up: Bog Nog Black IPA, Wake N Bake Clone, Breadbasket Wheat

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2012, 08:21:30 am »
I don't think there is anything to worry about. it's only been 3.5 days you say. I think it's still working. take another reading in another 2 days and if it is still at 1.028 then start worrying.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
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"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
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Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2012, 08:25:18 am »
Hydrometer
You are certain the hydrometer was floating and not touching the bottom of the tube right?
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Offline travjohn92

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2012, 08:32:15 am »
I typically don't pull a sample.  JUst drop my sanitized hydrometer into the fermenter and take a reading.
Primary: Belgian Wheat IPA, Vlad the IPAler
Secondary:  Iced Oatmeal Dunkelweizen
Kegged:  Baron Von IPWEIZEN, Dunkelweizen
Bottled: De Perverse Monnik Tripel
Next Up: Bog Nog Black IPA, Wake N Bake Clone, Breadbasket Wheat

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2012, 08:33:55 am »
I typically don't pull a sample.  JUst drop my sanitized hydrometer into the fermenter and take a reading.

If there is still alot of co2 disolved in the beer it's going to cling to the hydro and lift it up a bit. Take a sample, degas by shaking or pouring back and forth from one vessel to another and then take a reading. I don't think it would explain 20 points but it might well knock of 5 or so points.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Slow Yeast and / or no evidence any fermentation
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2012, 08:57:14 am »
I typically don't pull a sample.  JUst drop my sanitized hydrometer into the fermenter and take a reading.

OK. Then I'd recommend patience. Worry if it hasn't changed in a few days.
Delmarva United Homebrewers - President by inverse coup - former president ousted himself.
AHA Member since 2006
BJCP Certified: B0958