Fermentation after krauzen subsides?

I will generally give about 2 weeks total so the yeast have time to do their thing. Although if in a couple of days the hydrometer reading is the same, you can bottle it without worry.

 

There could be a few factors involved, IE fermentation temp (did it fluctuate, was it correct?) were the instructions followed to the T, like boil times, reach the correct boil etc. It could very well drop a few more digits. Like ThomP said, give it a few more days and see where it's at.

Enjoy your first brew bud!

Cheers!

Chris

 

What yeast did you use? What was the recipe? Did you monitor fermentation temps, and if so what were they?

 

Your yeast haven't given up . . . what you are seeing is how they do their job. They are at the end of the growth phase and starting the conditioning phase. It's possible you might drop another couple of points (or not). But it's vital to allow those little buggers to finish their job. Here's a quick read on the subject. It is important to not get in a hurry, you would rather error in leaving your beer on the yeast a few days longer than necessary rather than rack too soon. I consider two weeks the minimum time for primary fermentation, it's not unusual to allow a third week. Temp control is less critical now but don't let it go wild.

With your hydrometer you want to always apply a temp correction to your readings. But your OG (adjusted for temp) is set in stone after you take the reading. I suggest you ignore the potential ABV reading and use an ABV calculator (search Google) or just multiple the OG/FG difference by 131.25. In your case, I recommend giving it another 3-4 days before taking another reading. You will know you've reached FG after successive reading of the same gravity (typically taken 3 days apart). Even if you are at FG now you want to let the yeast complete the conditioning phase.

 

Probably not. Though depending on your recipe and process, attenuation may (or may not) be finished. But for a pale ale kit (presumably extract), with a typical american yeast strain, I'd say you're probably not quite at FG yet.

Not necessarily.

 

I'm still a newb at all of this, presently brewing my 3rd batch, but I need to ask: If your FG is supposed to be 1.010 - 1.012 is 1.015 really off the mark?

 

It depends on where the 1.010-1.012 estimate came from, i.e. based on what assumptions or calculations? But if I had a good solid 1.012 estimate, and the beer came in at 1.015 (and stayed there), I wouldn't worry *too* much. If I had a good solid 1.010 estimate and the beer came in at 1.015, that would raise a red flag.