 |
|
10-11-2008, 05:59 PM
|
#1
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 31
|
Apparent stuck fermentation after 36 hours
|
|
This is my 3rd time brewing, I didnt have any problems during the first two. This time I am brewing a "brewers best" IPA. It is an extract brew with some specialty grains as well.
I brewed on thursday night (the 9th) and was seeing lots of action threw the airlock by friday morning. When I got up today (the 11th) I checked the fermenter and found that there was zero bubbling goin on in the airlock. Could I possibly have stuck fermentation already?
Should I wait it out, or try pitching some more yeast?
I have heard mixed advise on agitating the wort to try and rouse the yeast, should I give that a try?
|
|
|
|
10-11-2008, 06:02 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: the Desert, CA
Posts: 1,205
|
airlock activity means nothing.... have you taken a hydro reading? If so, what is it?
__________________
Primary: altbier
Tap 1: pale ale
Tap 2: hibiscus kolsch
Tap 3: traditional kolsch
Tap 4: moose drool clone
Tap 5: soda
Bottles: porter, raspberry ale, and a lot of commercial microbrews
planning:flanders red or oud bruin
My Mid-Century Modern Inspired Keezer Build
|
|
|
|
|
10-11-2008, 06:29 PM
|
#3
|
|
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: "Detroitish" Michigan
Posts: 36,054
|
Bubbles mean nothing...the airlock is a vent, nothing more...don't think that nothing's happening just because the airlock isn't moving. It is a cheap 2 dollar lump of chinese plastic...not a precision instrument...The only precision instrument that can tell you what is going on is your hydrometer...
Read this,
http://blogs.homebrewtalk.com/Revvy/Think_evaluation_before_action/
More than likely it finished out...
__________________
Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman
I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew
|
|
|
|
|
10-12-2008, 08:33 PM
|
#4
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 31
|
starting gravity was 1.049. Current gravity is 1.021. Theres still no bubbling going on in the airlock, and it looks like the yeast is starting to settle.
There is no obvious contamination as far as the smell or taste of it, as far as i can tell. Could it just have finished fermenting in under two days?
|
|
|
|
|
10-12-2008, 09:06 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Fort Madison, IA (SE)
Posts: 321
|
This was the first brew I made. Mine started @ .051 and finished @ .020 after two weeks in primary. Did it have Muntons yeast? If so I think it poops out easily so I would just let it clean up a bit and move on. It should still be tastey but it won't have the expected alcohol content.
__________________
"OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE AND OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN" Iowa Motto
|
|
|
|
|
10-12-2008, 09:10 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Franklinton, NC
Posts: 276
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwin
Could it just have finished fermenting in under two days?
|
It could have but the only way to know is what others before me have said... USE A HYDROMETER and you will know for sure. When you get the same readings for at least 3 days its done.
__________________
"You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning!" FC1(SW) Ruben Serrato
Primary: Polar Bear Pale Ale
Secondary: Red Haired Black Bear Stout
Apfelwein Carboy:Apple/White Cranberry Hybrid
Bottled: EdWorts Apfelwein;RPA Red Panda Ale; Kodiak Brown
|
|
|
|
|
10-13-2008, 12:28 PM
|
#7
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bridgeport MI.
Posts: 84
|
i also started a first batch on friday morning, it was a brewers best, american pal. it started fermenting in 3 hours, woke up the next day it was not bubbling. the. og was 1.040, saturday was 1.020, guess i will wate for a couple of days and take another reading. i hope it is not some week beer from the short time it was fermenting. it shure is smelling good!!!
|
|
|
|
|
10-13-2008, 02:01 PM
|
#8
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Missouri
Posts: 56
|
First batch I did was with Muntons dry yeast, and it bubbled furiously for 2 days and then stopped. It was 1.016 when I moved to secondary and its now in its 2nd week in the secondary. Looks, smells, and tastes fine.
__________________
On Deck: Cream Ale, Hobgoblin, Pumpkin Ale, Apfelwein
Primary #1: NONE
Primary #2: Apfelwein
Bottled (10/18/08): Irish Red, Hefeweizen
|
|
|
|
|
10-13-2008, 02:33 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 168
|
I had a similar situation with the NB mild kit: 36 hours of hard bubbling (1-5 bubbles/second) followed by an abrupt stop. Took a gravity reading, and it was a little high (1.016, from an OG of 1.032). Figured I'd let it sit another 5 or 7 days. Took another gravity reading after 48 hours, and it was down to 1.013, with no bubbling, no significant warmth from the bucket.
The moral of the story is: RDWHAHB!  |
|
|
|
|
10-14-2008, 10:39 PM
|
#10
|
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 31
|
Thanks for the help guys...
Looks like its finished at .02. This is the second batch in a row that has finished at .02 (the first was a BB American nut brown with OG of 1.07)
What would cause this? Could it be the yeast? (Both used Windsor ale yeast)
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
|
|
