M
mcgsmanor
Hello-first time brewer and site user and I have a question
I brewed a batch of stout, which took off like a rocket in the primary fermenter. the OG was 1.050, which was at the top end of what the kit stated it would be. It fermented vigorously for about a day, then stopped. The temperature in my basement fluctuated, but I put a heating pad on it and the temp stabilized to about 66-68 (I live in MN). Then nothing. So, after a few days I took a hydrometer reading, and it read 1.025. I waited, then took another which was 1.020 (this was higher than the range the kit said, but I was also factoring in my inexperience reading the hydrometer). So, I waited a few more days, another reading said 1.020, so I racked into my carboy. There was a brief pickup (maybe a few hours) then back to just sitting. I waited a week, took a reading, 1.020, so I figured it would be bottling time. However, about 5 days ago the fermentation went nutso-bubbling away like mad. It finally slowed, where it is just blurbling once or twice a minute, but we are now entering the third week in the carboy. I know I should wait to bottle (I am REALLY excited about brewing my own beer!), and I am going to wait, but I just fear that I did something wrong, or that the beer is going to be ruined. Any help or advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. thanks!
I brewed a batch of stout, which took off like a rocket in the primary fermenter. the OG was 1.050, which was at the top end of what the kit stated it would be. It fermented vigorously for about a day, then stopped. The temperature in my basement fluctuated, but I put a heating pad on it and the temp stabilized to about 66-68 (I live in MN). Then nothing. So, after a few days I took a hydrometer reading, and it read 1.025. I waited, then took another which was 1.020 (this was higher than the range the kit said, but I was also factoring in my inexperience reading the hydrometer). So, I waited a few more days, another reading said 1.020, so I racked into my carboy. There was a brief pickup (maybe a few hours) then back to just sitting. I waited a week, took a reading, 1.020, so I figured it would be bottling time. However, about 5 days ago the fermentation went nutso-bubbling away like mad. It finally slowed, where it is just blurbling once or twice a minute, but we are now entering the third week in the carboy. I know I should wait to bottle (I am REALLY excited about brewing my own beer!), and I am going to wait, but I just fear that I did something wrong, or that the beer is going to be ruined. Any help or advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. thanks!