Morebeer Pliny Clone (DME) stuck Fermentation

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by PlinyWitbierPilsner, Jun 6, 2024.

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  1. PlinyWitbierPilsner

    PlinyWitbierPilsner Initiate (15) Jun 6, 2024

    I have a witbier and this Pliny clone going in the basement. Pliny krausen was fierce to start is a West Coastvyeast then slowed after 3 days, the witbier just poked along using the standard witbier us-33. Left for a week to come back to 2 stalled fermentations. Both SG readings were only 1/2 way done. Swirled both carboys.

    put the carboys on a seedling mat at 72°F and wrapped them good with a second digital thermometer under wrap to be sure not to overheat.

    after 24 hours pitched in some us-05 into both

    After another 24 hrs added 1/2 of a mix to each carboy: 4oz corn sugar boiled in a gallon of water and some yeast nutrient.

    now the witbier is glugging away but the Pliny is still stuck. Note: before adding the corn sugar mix swirling the carboys produced no gas release in the Pliny and just a little in the witbier. I am using blowoff tubes into gallon jugs of water.

    Ordered some beano for the Pliny: suggestions!
     
  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Let me state upfront: I don’t know why your beers appear to be stuck.

    One question: did your beers get too cold while you were away?

    Second question: how confident are you of the accuracy of your specific gravity readings (“Both SG readings were only 1/2 way done”)? Is there any chance these readings are off and those beers actually reached their final gravity targets?

    Given your description of the PtE batch: “Pliny krausen was fierce to start…” it would be unusual for this fermentation to stall.

    You made mention of beano and below is from BYO magazine:

    “Beano® isn't just for flatuence — it's also the key to brewing light beer at home! Slip a couple Beano® tablets in the fermenter and the unfermentable carbohydrates will be converted to fermentable sugars and, voilà, light beer.”

    If you do indeed have stuck fermentations (which I question) than beano is not the ‘answer’ here. Beano just converts dextrins to simple sugars.

    Cheers!
     
  3. VikeMan

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

    Hydrometer or Refractometer? If the latter, you need to use a refractometer calculator, as a raw refractometer reading won't be anywhere near correct (from a gravity standpoint) once a significant amount of alcohol has been produced.
     
  4. runbirddrinkbeer

    runbirddrinkbeer Pooh-Bah (1,722) Oct 24, 2009 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Love my hydrometer!
     
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  5. runbirddrinkbeer

    runbirddrinkbeer Pooh-Bah (1,722) Oct 24, 2009 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    You mentioned an attempt to heat the beer up or control the temperature after one or two weeks but was there any temperature control in the first 72 hours? Fermentation is an exothermic process and generates quite a bit of heat even if your basement was in the high 60s, the beer was likely much warmer and fermented extremely quickly. Like the gentlemen above replied, I would try to take a gravity by another means such as a hydrometer or a corrected refractometer reading as mentioned. Getting a correct measurement is crucial, especially if you’re bottling.
     
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  6. beershrine

    beershrine Pundit (819) May 29, 2004 Idaho

    One reason I don't use liquid yeast is because those yeasts are sleeping and it's to much effort to wake them up. If there is activity on the surface your fermenting I've fermented beers with almost zero airlock bubbling in 12 days. Hydrometer test every other day.
     
  7. VikeMan

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

    If liquid yeast are sleeping, then dry yeast are comatose. I mean, they are as inactive as yeast can get without being dead.
     
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