chrisgray

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My friend and I brewed three 5 gallon batches of the same ESB yesterday. One is in a Better Bottle and the other two are in buckets.

Here's the problem, one of the buckets seems to be malfunctioning. The airlock doesn't show activity. We opened it and there was krausen so we switched the lid and still, no bubbles in the lock! Could there be a problem with the bucket?

There is no sign of a leak and the other two are going like champs....

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

TipsyDragon

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ok first off RDWHAHB. no airlock activity doesn't mean anything. the airlock is just a pressure release valve not a fermentation indicator. chances are the lid to the bucket isn't sealing right. this is a well known issue with bucket fermentation. i wouldn't give it a second thought and let it brew.

mattmcl

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When you took the lid off, was there a lot of pressure? I'm wondering if the airlock is blocked and not letting the co2 escape.

If there wasn't any pressure released when you opened the lid, it means your airlock is doing it's job. Put the lid back on and relax, it's probably just taking a little longer. Krausen means everything is going well.

togabear

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Its just possible its not releasing CO2 yet. I have had a few beers show no activity but have krausen. Its only been one day? I wouldn't worry about it yet.

If your still worried, sequeze the bucket and see if it bubbles or if you hear air coming out of it. If you dont see bubbles, but hear air, its the bucket. If just see bubbles, its fine.

If you are really worried about it still, try putting keg lube around edge of bucket and airlock. Maybe its just a bad seal? Or maybe the airlock is broken.

Revvy

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First http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/fermentation-can-take-24-72-hrs-show-visible-signs-43635/?highlight=72+hours

But by visible signs they DON'T mean airlock activity.

Your airlock is not a fermentation gauge, it is a VALVE to release excess co2. And the peak of fermentation has already wound down, so there's simply no need to vent off any excess co2.

If your airlock was bubbling and stopped---It doesn't mean fermentation has stopped.

If you airlock isn't bubbling, it doesn't mean your fermentation hasn't started....

If your airlock starts bubbling, it really doesn't matter.

If your airlock NEVER bubbles, it doesn't mean anything is wrong or right.

The only way to truly know what is going on in your fermenter is with your hydrometer. Like I said here in my blog, which I encourage you to read, Think evaluation before action you sure as HELL wouldn't want a doctor to start cutting on you unless he used the proper diagnostic instuments like x-rays first, right? You wouldn't want him to just take a look in your eyes briefly and say "I'm cutting into your chest first thing in the morning." You would want them to use the right diagnostic tools before the slice and dice, right? You'd cry malpractice, I would hope, if they didn't say they were sending you for an MRI and other things before going in....

Thinking about "doing anything" without taking a hydrometer reading is tantamount to the doctor deciding to cut you open without running any diagnostic tests....Taking one look at you and saying, "Yeah I'm going in." You would really want the doctor to use all means to properly diagnose what's going on. It's exactly the same thing when you try to go by airlock....

You'll be much happier if you get out of that habit...you will find that fermentations rarely don't take off, or just Stop...In fact I've never had a beer not ferment. BUT half of my fermentations, spread out across 9 different fermenters, never blip once in the airlock.

Fermentation is not always "dynamic," just because you don't SEE anything happening, doesn't mean that any-thing's wrong,, and also doesn't mean that the yeast are still not working diligently away, doing what they've been doing for over 4,000 years..

So, Relax, then wait 72 hours and take a hydrometer, and you'll see, more than likely that everything is fin...it is fine 99.95% of the time.

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wyzazz

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Get 'em Revvy!!! ;0)

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chrisgray

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Thanks guys, we're gonna relax and leave it alone.

TechyDork

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Revvy, do you just have this response saved so that you can cut and paste it.

I agree, RDWHAHB and get started on the next brew!

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-Dustin

I gotz beers

Revvy

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Yeah, as well as the one about green beer, and about 5 others for the most commonly asked questions/ apparent (but non-existant problems) that are a result of new brewer's fears.

After answering a question the first 50-60 times I just cut and paste...it is after all the same issue/question 100% of the time.

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snail

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I was wondering that too. I swear to god I've seen about 50 posts with Revvy saying that famous phrase, "Your airlock is not a fermentation gauge, it is a VALVE to release excess co2."