StillSmart

Hi all

Just checked my batch of mash and the temp has risen to 40c, was put on about a week ago and was bubbling nicely for a couple of days. I'm not sure if the heater has malfunctioned?? Is there anything I can do to rescue it? I presume the yeast will of died off. It's the lentil wash receipe I'm following

I don't use any form of heat during the summer for my neutral wash batches, just room temp seems fine (sugar wash using vodka star yeast).

At most I use a brew belt in winter which is fixed at 24C so should never get the wash too warm.

I'd say just switch off the heater and wrap an old blanket or similar round the bucket, then replace the heater with something that's either more controllable or fixed like brew belts........

Don't worry about it being ruined. If the yeast is dead and the gravity isn't dropping, just let it cool and as above for heating and pitch fresh yeast but look up "restarting stuck ferments" via Mr Google.

Examine for signs of activity, bubbles, as long as you have some, the wash is alive.
I always drop an aquarium heater in my lentil washes,set at around 30 deg.C

They often do not switch on in the first few days as the violent yeast activity heats the wash beyond that.
Without dropping a hydrometer in there, which may prove all sugar converted, I am unsure what to suggest.

HTH

Robert.

Hi, & welcome to the forum JB.

It should be ok, as Phantom & ED have said there's a good chance of saving it. I'd check with a hydro just to see where about it is with the sugar...if it's dropped from the SG then it started off ok.

As ED said can you see any bubbles??....if you think it needs to be cooled down any...drop a wet T-shirt over the bucket, this will help to lower the temp.

When it's at the correct temp if no movement then do as P said and re-start it....at this point I would suggest taking a PH reading, that's if you can??

Hope it work ok, let us know.

This is nothing more than a stuck fermentation.

Like the guys have said check it is stuck. For this you need to take a hydrometer reading ( or refractometer) and establish if there is still sugar to be fermented. Don't worry about the pH at this point.

Get the temperature correct and restart. If that is what it needs.



I for one would certainly be interested to see know you had any activity after a hit at 40° C

Don't be put off using heating in the summer months, I use it all the time. I have heating on at the moment to maintain a steady temperature. To heat or not depends on where you are and what you are trying to achieve.

Mash wrote: Don't worry about the pH at this point.

For once Mash I have to call you on this mate....the high temp it hit we don't know what has happened in the wash.

A simple PH test would tell you if it was off...I've only had one wash stall in the years I've stilled....and that was the PH..I corrected, it added more yeast and away she went.

Icefever wrote:

Mash wrote: Don't worry about the pH at this point.

For once Mash I have to call you on this mate....the high temp it hit we don't know what has happened in the wash.

A simple PH test would tell you if it was off...I've only had one wash stall in the years I've stilled....and that was the PH..I corrected, it added more yeast and away she went.

Hmmm. Let me show you my workings

As it was fermenting, PH was not an issue. (Not saying it was ideal)
We know temp does not effect PH swing. Therefore we can focus on a sound restart.
Test ph by all means. My point was its not relevant to the restart protocol in this case as PH did not cause the stall.

Isn't it nice to have to perform a restart where the cause is known. Often this is not the case and we have to go hunting.

Will be interesting to see is there was any life - would be a great example to do a cell count on. Never took one over 32c myself.

Thanks guys, it's definitely not bubbling any more the state is at 1.3 so will wait till its cooled down then restart it I guess.

Also I'm a meme
Her already but I couldn't remember my password, also don't have the old email account associated with this forum now so can't reset it, I was jonc26uk could a admin sort it out? If not will stick with this new account

Ok, so this is the post that caused me to fall asleep last night.
With respect to Jonnyboy, not trying to diss you here, and I cannot restore your previous user name.
I went between the other posts until my brain was frazzled,and I simply could not cope with it anymore.

Robert.

Lol no worries, I will stick with this.

Also update on the mash everyone, decided to get the temp back to a steady temp with a Brewers heater pad ready for a restart and once it got to a constant 27 it has started bubbling away again!! Will monitor and see what happens.

I am happy for you that your wash is back on track, and wish you well with it.
I recently went from having too much distillate to store, to where has it gone?
Dumb question. I drank it.
Take care.

Robert.

I'm happy for you, that the wash as restarted.