To everyone that's made this kit, I could use some guidance...
Initial fermentation was held at 75 degrees. I was very careful to get the volume to exactly 11.5L (3 gals) when I started the kit. After I transfered the kit to a carboy, thetemp was kept around 70 degrees. Primary fermentation made it to 1.014, I added the corn sugar per the instructions and the sg went up to 1.027. After 5 days (day 14) the sg dropped to 1.022.I splashed racked into the carboy at this point since it seemed to be very sluggish and I had hoped to kick theyeast back into action.
For the lasttwo weeksthe sg has remained at 1.022. The current abv is at 15.76. I'm on day 28. If the kit got down to 1.010 as recommended the abv would be 17.4. I figure I have a few choices:
1) Try and re-start the fermentation with new yeast: From what I've read this has a 50/50 chance of working.
2) Try and re-start the fermentation with the slurry (EC-1118) from another kit: I will have another kit ready to transfer to a carboy next weekend. This seems to be the best choice if I decide to try and re-start it. Probability of success seems to be 80%. Think this will be a problem after the fermentation has been stopped for 3 weeks and I throw it back into the primary?
3) Leave it alone, fore-go adding the f-pack, stabilize the kit, accept the lower abv and move on. It tastes OK at this point, I would not want it any sweeter. I guess I could fortify it but I'm OK with the current abv.
I realize this is not a "new" problem with this kit.There are numerous "stuck fermentation" posts around that tell the same tale. So if you've been here what did you do?
Thanks for the guidance, Jeff
Edited by: Jeff H
Initial fermentation was held at 75 degrees. I was very careful to get the volume to exactly 11.5L (3 gals) when I started the kit. After I transfered the kit to a carboy, thetemp was kept around 70 degrees. Primary fermentation made it to 1.014, I added the corn sugar per the instructions and the sg went up to 1.027. After 5 days (day 14) the sg dropped to 1.022.I splashed racked into the carboy at this point since it seemed to be very sluggish and I had hoped to kick theyeast back into action.
For the lasttwo weeksthe sg has remained at 1.022. The current abv is at 15.76. I'm on day 28. If the kit got down to 1.010 as recommended the abv would be 17.4. I figure I have a few choices:
1) Try and re-start the fermentation with new yeast: From what I've read this has a 50/50 chance of working.
2) Try and re-start the fermentation with the slurry (EC-1118) from another kit: I will have another kit ready to transfer to a carboy next weekend. This seems to be the best choice if I decide to try and re-start it. Probability of success seems to be 80%. Think this will be a problem after the fermentation has been stopped for 3 weeks and I throw it back into the primary?
3) Leave it alone, fore-go adding the f-pack, stabilize the kit, accept the lower abv and move on. It tastes OK at this point, I would not want it any sweeter. I guess I could fortify it but I'm OK with the current abv.
I realize this is not a "new" problem with this kit.There are numerous "stuck fermentation" posts around that tell the same tale. So if you've been here what did you do?
Thanks for the guidance, Jeff
Edited by: Jeff H