[Review] American Black IPA

[diarmuid]

This is a Kit I won in a raffle from homebrew west. Many thanks guys.

Unfortunately my phone was on the blink on Sunday when I brewed so I have no Pics from then.

But it is a fairly simple Kit.
Contents: 2 cans of hopped extract, instructions and a pack of dried yeast.

http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10118.0;attach=7941;image

I first rehydrated the yeast, the instructions didn't ask for this but I prefer to rehydrate.
After I sanitised all my gear, I warmed the two cans then added them to the fermenter.
I then rinsed out the cans with hot water, and added 3 litres more of boiling water.

Then topped up with tap water to 23 litres.

I pitched the yeast at 25. OG reading of 1.034 a little lower than I had hoped.

I put the fermenter in my fermentation chamber ( converted fridge ) and set to 20 degrees.

http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10118.0;attach=7942;image

By the next day,the airlock was bubbling ( slowly ) so happy days.

But after 2 more days the airlock stopped so I checked the gravity now 1.030.

checked again today and still 1.030
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10118.0;attach=7943;image

I have turned up the temperature to 24 degrees. If that doesn't kick start it again, am I looking at pitching more yeast?
'

[diarmuid]

Update

I repitched with some US 05 two weeks ago when Gravity was stuck at 1.030.
Fermentation started again within 24 hours.
Has been bubbling slowly for two weeks now and still bubbling very slowly.
Gravity now at 1.018 sample doesn't tau at great still quite sweet.

I'm just wondering as this is now in the fermenter over 3 weeks how much longer can I leave it?

Also the abv is only going to be about 2.5% which is pretty low for a beer of 75 IBU's.

If I throw in a bag of sugar of DME then I'll hardly be able to give an accurate review of the kit.

[Drum]

Drzava had a similar problem with another Gozdawa kit, thread is here http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,9869.0.html

Stuck fermentation seems to be a recurring theme with these kits. My suggestion on the other thread was to bottle a few litres to give a review of the kit beer as it was intended and then add some sugar/DME to boost the ABV to a more respectable level

[diarmuid]

Thanks Drum Gonna try this at the weekend.

[LordEoin]

Are you sure your hydrometer is working correctly?
3.4kg LME to 23L should have started with OG ~1.044