Fermentation

Have you taken gravity readings? As long as the gravity is still dropping over time, it is still going strong.

 

None whatsoever.

 

As koopa stated, no reason for concern at all.

It is not unusual for higher gravity beers to ferment for a longer period of time. It is my practice to keep higher gravity beers (> 1.060) in my primary fermenter for a minimum of two weeks (and I often let it go longer).

Cheers!

 

With an OG that high I'd recommend at least 3 weeks in primary but it certainly isn't necessary.

 

You didn't mention how much yeast you pitched. If a very high OG beer were under pitched a bit, it could easily take 10 days or so to finish. I have a porter on vanilla beans right now that came in at 1082 and took 10 days to finish with 11 grams of s05 at about 62 degrees F ambient. It finally dropped out just fine and had great attenuation..no worries
You could go to mrmalty.com for a yeast pitching calculator if you aren't already knowledgeable about yeast rates.

 

What was the recipe? Extract or mash? Lots of reasons but not knowing how the beer was brewed and the recipe I can't get too specific.

 

For me, every unexpectedly high OG was a result of insufficient water in the brew kettle, either by under-sparging, over boiling, or both. I brewed on Friday, and due to unexpectedly windy conditions, I had to top off with no less than 2 gallons of water to achieve my intended 5 gallon batch. It is my worst-ever deviation from my intended results.

 

Don't let the airlock be the gauge of fermentation. During an active fermentation the wort will be saturated with co2. Your airlock could pop for weeks with trapped co2 working its way out of suspension. Your hydrometer/refractometer will be your only accurate gauge. Cheers!

 

Must be small batch because I cant see 7lb DME getting you 1.088 OG for a 5 gallon batch. Full boil or partial boil?

 

So a smaller than normal 5 gallon batch? Did you top off with water?

 

I'm even more confused. I can't see how 7lb DME gets you 1.088 gravity. You need closer to 10lb to get 1.088 in a 5 gallon batch. Regardless, it may be your gravity reading came from the bottom of the fermenter which was not well mixed with the water thus the higher reading.

 

If that was the only fermentable, there's no way the OG in 5+ gallons was 1.088. More like 1.062. When doing a partial boil, you need to thoroughly mix your top off water with the wort before taking a gravity reading.

Wait, 'Belgian Strong Pale.' Was there sugar added?