"JM" <NoSpam@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:107ejn5kga24710@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
> Beano tablets?
>
> Reason???
>
> John[/color]

The short answer: Inadequate enzymes & complex sugars. Some yeasts have a
harder time fermenting the more complex sugars in your wort, especially if
it is an extract brew with no grain (and hence, minimal enzymes). Beano
contains enzymes which break the complex sugars into ones that are easier
for the yeast to digest. Hence, you can usually lower the final gravity of
your beer simply by adding 3 Beano tablets per 5 gallons. Because of the
latest "low carb diet" craze, there have been tons of articles in Brew Your
Own magazine over the past few months proving this point. I have had
several brews already that have completed fermentation at a final gravity of
around 1.022. Now it seems that if I had just added a few Beano tablets, I
might have gotten the final gravity closer to where I wanted it to be. The
beer just needed a little kick (a few more enzymes) to break down the
extract's sugars. That's my theory. It's certainly worth a try. From what
I understand, it should not affect the flavor of your brew or anything like
that. It will just thin it out a little bit. But if your fermentation is
stuck, then you've got sweet tar in your fermenter, and sweet tar thinned
out plus a little alcohol equals beer, right?

--
Dave
"Just a drink, a little drink, and I'll be feeling GOOooOOooOOooD!" --
Genesis, 1973-ish