Only half fermented & bottled, can it be saved?

[knapman]

Just tried my Muntons lager & it wasn't nice so i checked
it with my hydrometer & its less than half fermented,would it
be possible to return it to the FB & try and finish the ferment
or should i call it a day & bin it.
I think i will need to get a heater belt as i relied on the warmth
of the CH boiler to keep it warm, do you think thats the problem?

Bob

 

[graysalchemy]

I think you should have used the hydrometer before bottling :lol: :lol:

I suppose you have nothing to lose by doing that though probably not ideal.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

If its bottled, you have two choices:-
1, Empty the bottles back into a sterilized FV and finish fermenting
2, What I would do.....Open the bottles....wrap the tops in cling film, and pierce a few times with a pin...bring back into the warm, until fermentation has finished....re-prime and re-cap.
HTH

 

[winnywood]

What was the reading on the hydometer?

 

[knapman]

What was the reading on the hydometer?

It was half way between the marks "beer start" & "beer finish" 1020 i think.

Bob

 

[winnywood]

Sounds like it was a stuck ferment then.
Why did you bottle if the sg was that high?
I think your only option is to do what you surjested if you want to try and save it.
If it was a cheap kit maybe you should just count your losses and start again.
Did you ferment at the right temp because if you carnt provide the ideal temp it will happen again.

 

[knapman]

Sounds like it was a stuck ferment then.
Why did you bottle if the sg was that high?
I think your only option is to do what you surjested if you want to try and save it.
If it was a cheap kit maybe you should just count your losses and start again.
Did you ferment at the right temp because if you carnt provide the ideal temp it will happen again.

Only just started home brewing & didn't have a hydrometer when i bottled it.
It was a Muntons kit.
As i mentioned earlier i think i'm going to get a heater belt for next brew.

Thanks for your replies

Bob

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Sounds like it was a stuck ferment then.
Why did you bottle if the sg was that high?
I think your only option is to do what you surjested if you want to try and save it.
If it was a cheap kit maybe you should just count your losses and start again.
Did you ferment at the right temp because if you carnt provide the ideal temp it will happen again.

Season of goodwill and all that....
1, Doesn't sound like a stuck ferment
2, Inexperienced brewer...learn how to read and trust your hydrometer/hydrometers
3, Cheap or expensive...never give up until you are 100% sure its f****d
4, Some brewers cant provide the exact temps...and sometimes ...near enough is good enough

 

[winnywood]

Ok maybe wrong choice of word. It either stalled because temp was to low or was just bottled to early through inexperience.

And i did say ideal temps which is a fundemental part of any brewing.

Just out of interest how long did you leave it in fv before bottling.

 

[knapman]

Ok maybe wrong choice of word. It either stalled because temp was to low or was just bottled to early through inexperience.

And i did say ideal temps which is a fundemental part of any brewing.

Just out of interest how long did you leave it in fv before bottling.

I think the mistake i made was that i transferred it to demijohns after 5 days
& left it to stop bubbling & started to clear (another 5 days) then bottled.
So a combination of temperature/transferring probably upset the ferment.
I find it easier to bottle from demijohns than large bucket but will leave
it until the end using a hydrometer to check & also invest in a belt heater
from now on.
Thanks for the help.

Bob