Gravity reading staying the same, but airlock still bubbles??

[sea2summit3]

My second AG batch, a robust porter clocking in at 1.069 OG, seems to have finished fermentation, but the airlock is still bubbling. For the past 5 days, my hydrometer has been reading at 1.026 at 60F. Yet, the airlock is still bubbling... very slowly. This fermentation was originally stuck after re-pitching yeast and I got it started again by pitching a new starter from fresh Nottingham yeast. I know to trust my hydrometer, but usually the airlock stops bubbling when fermentation stops.

Fermentation room temp was stable at 68f, but has recently dropped to 64-65F. My thermometer is calibrated. I always cool samples to 60F for gravity readings. The hydrometer is fairly new and has been used successfully with 6 other batches. In three years of brewing, I can't remember a fermentation that continues to bubble while gravity readings remain stable. I'm clinging on to some hope that FG will drop below 1.020, but gravity isn't changing. Any ideas?

 

[HomerJR]

CO2 being released from suspension? Maybe give the fermenter a swirl, perhaps raise the temp a few degrees? How long has it been in the fermenter?

Maybe just needs more time.

 

[Hermit]

CO2 being released from suspension? Maybe give the fermenter a swirl, perhaps raise the temp a few degrees? How long has it been in the fermenter?

Maybe just needs more time.

If it is CO2 in suspension could that also be inhibiting the yeast?

 

[sea2summit3]

Thats been my guess as well, but its been doing this for a while now. The beer has been in the fermenter for about 2 weeks now. I'm content to let it go for a few more weeks. I stirred it a bit today with my wine thief after taking a sample... we'll see if that does anything.

 

[uechikid]

I have had fermenters do that very same thing with no gravity drop. I wouldn't worry about it. If you are getting close to 10 days in that fermenter, it's time to rack.