room temperature while fermenting

nowashburn · 01-05-2010, 12:22 AM

hi all! im currently trying to brew my first beer ever. I bought a brewer's best 2009 hopnog and everything seemed to be going quite fine.

currently, i have the wort in a plastic fermenter sitting in my crawlspace / furnace room with the airlock in the top of the fermenter. its been a little over 24 hours and there has been no bubbling in the airlock.

the temperature in the room is reading at precisely 59 degrees. please someone let me know if this is the problem and i will make room inside for it immediately!

thanks in advance

nowashburn · 01-05-2010, 12:26 AM

my original barometer reading was 1.050, would it be too soon to take another barometer reading?

**ChshreCat** · 01-05-2010, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nowashburn

my original barometer reading was 1.050, would it be too soon to take another barometer reading?

I assume you mean hydrometer and not barometer...

59 is a little on the cold side, but not too far off. I'd just leave it alone for the time being. The airlock isn't a good indicator of fermentation. My airlock never bubbles. And fermentation can take a day or two (or more) to start up. Especially when you have your fermenter sitting at the low end of the temp range. Better to be on the low end of the range than be too warm.

What yeast did you use?

nowashburn · 01-05-2010, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChshreCat

I assume you mean hydrometer and not barometer...

59 is a little on the cold side, but not too far off. I'd just leave it alone for the time being.

haha, hydrometer is indeed what i meant. sorry about that.

HIM_Tattoos · 01-05-2010, 12:38 AM

59 isn't that bad. Are you using dry yeast? More specifically, dry ale yeast? I've found that my dry yeasts at colder temps generally take 24-48 hours to show sign of fermentation in the air lock.

nowashburn · 01-05-2010, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIM_Tattoos

59 isn't that bad. Are you using dry yeast? More specifically, dry ale yeast? I've found that my dry yeasts at colder temps generally take 24-48 hours to show sign of fermentation in the air lock.

yes, the kit came with Safale US-05 yeast. Anyhow, i guess because its my first time brewing i REALLY dont want to ruin it. So, I made a little room in the closet which is at a comfy 68 degrees. I just hope i didnt ruin it bu keeping it out there in the first place.

HIM_Tattoos · 01-05-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nowashburn

yes, the kit came with Safale US-05 yeast. Anyhow, i guess because its my first time brewing i REALLY dont want to ruin it. So, I made a little room in the closet which is at a comfy 68 degrees. I just hope i didnt ruin it bu keeping it out there in the first place.

RDWHAHB!!!!

**ChshreCat** · 01-05-2010, 01:07 AM

I'd say that 59 would have been better than 68, actually. It'd ferment slower, but that's usually a good thing. But, this being your first brew, you might not be ready for the slow-and-steady approach anyway. Leave it in the closet and relax.

And check it in a week.

nowashburn · 01-05-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIM_Tattoos

RDWHAHB!!!!

hehe, actually had to google "RDWHAHB" since i didnt know what it meant!

nowashburn · 01-05-2010, 03:18 AM

so i moved it inside as posted earlier and it has bubbled a few times since. prolly just from moving it around i guess.

however, during prime fermentation, how often should it be bubbling just so i know?