First homebrew....a question.

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Aventinus88, Feb 21, 2015.

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  1. Aventinus88

    Aventinus88 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 New Jersey

    I'm two weeks into fermentation on a partial mash milk stout. Just tasted the beer and took a gravity reading. I'm at 1.020 and the target is 1.060. It's also a medium to dark brown color with none of the flavor characteristics i was hoping for at this point in the process.

    Is there any chance that fermentation has stalled at this point? How can i know for sure. Or am i better off just waiting another week and tasting it again? Thanks for any feedback.
     
    imdabuzzard likes this.
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I think you probably meant the target is 1.016. It may be done at 1.020. Wait 2-3 days and measure again to be sure.
     
    GUNSLINGER likes this.
  3. GUNSLINGER

    GUNSLINGER Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2013 Colorado

    ^what Vikeman said. I will add that the flavor is almost certainly going to change between now and being finished/carbonated, so don't put too much stock in what it is now, wait till finished and decide.
     
  4. Aventinus88

    Aventinus88 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 New Jersey

    yea, read the recipe wrong, OG was 1.060, and FG is 1.014. Still, could the color and taste change enough in 3 days to what they should be?
     
  5. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Most beer will undergo drastic flavor changes in carbonation. Also, you may have yeast in suspension that causes the color to appear lighter than it actually is.
    Having an FG .004 off really isn't too bad in the scheme of things, there are things that can cause that difference, including temp changes, stratification of the beer, if your volume is off a bit, and even some bubbles in the testing tube.
    Recipe and procedure might also help to see if there is a problem.
    Personally, I would let it ride another few days minimum (I personally let things sit in primary for at least 3 weeks to be sure it's done) and then if you're sure it's done, bottle and condition. The final end product may surprise you.
     
  6. Aventinus88

    Aventinus88 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 New Jersey


    cool, thanks, it was a pretty simple recipe.
    1lb black malt
    12 oz caramel malt
    4oz chocolate malt
    1lb lactose powder
    6.6lb golden light liquid malt extract

    1oz kent golding
    1 package wyeast 1029 london ale liquid yeast.

    the actual brew was pretty straighforward, i followed all the steps as recommended. The only change i made was to add 6 oz oats for a slightly silkier mouthfeel.


    appreciate your feedback.
     
  7. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Actual color won't really change, though yeast and other particles may settle out. Is there something particularly bothering you about the taste?
     
  8. Aventinus88

    Aventinus88 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 New Jersey

    i was hoping it would be darker. looks more like a brown ale than a stout at this point. also, the taste i'm getting is closer to a quad than a stout. I'm not going to sweat it too much, i just would hate having all the planning and effort be for nothing.
     
  9. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Closer to a quad in what way?
     
  10. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Two things:
    1. Was the recipe modeled after a certain beer that gave you the expectations that you were looking to mimic? It's hard to match exactly to a known flavor of a specific brew with a clone recipe, so your expectations may have been over zealous. Were you possibly expecting a bit of a roasted malt flavor in this beer?
    2. Looking at your recipe, with a pound of black malt, your beer should have been pretty dark. Was the grain whole or cracked?
     
    imdabuzzard likes this.
  11. Aventinus88

    Aventinus88 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 New Jersey

    It wasn't a clone. It was just a straight up milk stout. Malt was milled fairly fine. Appreciate all the feedback but I guess it's not the end of the world if it doesn't turn out the way I'd hoped. Just trying to make sure I don't make the same mistakes for my next batch.
     
  12. GavinHarper

    GavinHarper Initiate (0) Jan 22, 2014 California

    if it seems to taste closer to a quad then you're probably tasting the yeast. as others mentioned give a few more days(or longer). if you're able to do a cold crash, a good bit of the yeast will fall out and you most likely won't taste a lot of yeast like you are probably tasting now.
     
  13. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,295) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    As your first homebrew ... what were you hoping for after fermenting the wort for two weeks?
     
  14. Aventinus88

    Aventinus88 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2014 New Jersey

    As far as expecting a finished product after two weeks, that's what the recipe recommended. It did not say that 3 weeks may be necessary. That said, other posts have said that the timeframe can be fluid. So I will just wait another week and hope for the best
     
  15. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Make sure it is finished fermenting, bottle it, wait two weeks for it to carb, then give one a try. It likely won't be great, but you will have a much better idea of what you have on your hands at that point. RDWH(Someone Else's)HB.
     
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