Is my beer finished fermenting?

If you have waited two weeks for an ale, or four weeks for a lager, or you're just curious. Most veteran homebrewers will tell you the beer is done once the airlock stops bubbling but this isn't a sure thing that fermentation is complete. This is where a hydrometer is sometimes worth its weight in gold. If you call our advice line and ask "Is my beer finished fermenting?" the first question will be, "Have you taken a hydrometer reading?" A hydrometer reading at the end of fermentation is called a final gravity reading, often abbreviated "FG". This tells you the amount of sugar left in the beer. Most yeast strains consume 65-75% of sugar in solution, this is called "attenuation." Here's an example gravity: OG: 1.050 your Goal FG would be: 1.010-1.015. If you are more than a few points above your estimated FG you will need to wait a couple more days. After a few days take another reading to see if the FG has dropped. If the FG has not dropped you will either need to consult us on our advice line at 925-671-4958. We will ask you some questions about the recipe, the yeast strain, and the fermentation temperatures your beer was exposed to. Sometimes we have some insightful comments on why fermentation is acting strangely, and other times only the beer Gods know.

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