Should I repitch.... again?

Terry_R · Mar 23, 2018

Hi. I have a fermentation that is stuck at 1.030. It's a DME brew fermented with dried us-05 yeast. I think I under oxygenated the wort at the start and didn't pitch enough yeast (OG was 1.060). I repitched a second pack of us-05 over a week ago but still stuck at 1.030. I'm thinking my next move is to syphon out half a litre, shake the hell out of it, pitch some re-start yeast in to it, wait to see if it starts and then pour it back into the main 5g batch. Will that work?

Old_P · Mar 23, 2018

Adding a second packet of yeast should have done the trick unless as you mention it doesn't have the oxygen it requires, so yes what you suggest is worth a try.
And asking a dumb question, you do have it in the right temperature zone?

terrym · Mar 23, 2018

This might be of use
Simple strategies for dealing with stuck fermentations

Grizzly299 · Mar 24, 2018

Rather than risk adding oxygen into a partially fermented beer you could add a little olive oil. Yeast need oxygen to produce Unsaturated fatty acids(UFA) for their cell walls.

If we provide them with UFA's in the form of olive oil then they can pretty much go straight to work without the oxygen. You need less than 1ml per 5 gallons.

This method is known to produce a slightly more estery beer, but in your case I would be tempted to give this a go.

There is a little about it in the Yeast book by Chris White.

The the only thing you will need is something to emulsify the oil so that it mixes with the wort and doesn't just float on top.

Sandimas · Mar 24, 2018

Old_P said:
And asking a dumb question, you do have it in the right temperature zone?

+1

Something isn't right. If you've pitched another yeast, pitching another probably won't help.

1030 is a strange gravity to stick at. Are you sure your hydrometer is correct? What temp are you fermenting at? I can't think lack of oxygen is your problem

Drunkula · Mar 24, 2018

And if it still doesn't start thash the **** out of it and oxygenate it to hell. I had exactly the same thing happen and that's the only thing that worked. Rousing, repitching, making a starter and adding it - none of it worked. This was all temperature controller, too.

ACBEV · Mar 24, 2018

1.030 is high! If you have a spare FV, I'd be tempted to chuck it into that and leave for another week before taking a reading. I've done this a few times with stubborn brews. When I say chuck, I really mean tip/pour from one FV to the other.

Fil · Mar 24, 2018

er have you checked your hydrometer is reading OK? drop it in room temp tap water (check what temp yur hydrometer is callibrrated for) and it should read 1.000 or there abouts.

its not that uncommon for the paper tube gradient in the hydrometer to become unstuck and able to move up and down with some shock or jerking, especially if sanitised with off the boil water or washed in too hot a bath.

could be your beers been sat @ its target fg all along

Should I repitch.... again?

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