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tjwor · 08-22-2012, 03:35 AM

I'm brewing my first batch, an Irish Red. Went into Fermenter Last Thursday, 5 days ago... The airlock went crazy for about 2 days, had consistent temp of fermentation chamber at 64*, between 2nd and 3rd day the A/C blew the fuse and it was 74* when I found out...

I went to take my first gravity reading as I hadn't seen any movement and this is what I saw... being my first batch I have no clue if this is normal... It doesn't smell as I expected, but like I say, being my first batch idk if it is normal or not...

I also went ahead and took a gravity reading 1.022 is what I was seeing, but using my new thief I bought had a few inches of what appeared to be yeast mixed in so I'm unsure how accurate the reading was...

So Suggestions from here?

(BTW I drained out the lower portion of the thief and tasted it the top... basically taste like a flat Irish Red, but the smell on top of the fermenter isn't an Irish Red by any means...)

**res291que** · 08-22-2012, 03:38 AM

Looks completely normal, may need to wait a few more days for the gravity to continue to drop before bottling though.

crookshc · 08-22-2012, 06:38 AM

This...

Quote:

Originally Posted by res291que

Looks completely normal, may need to wait a few more days for the gravity to continue to drop before bottling though.

iskuse · 08-22-2012, 12:31 PM

It's fine man, let it rest another week, all that stuff (hops and yeast) will settle out. Color looks good too!

**dstranger99** · 08-22-2012, 12:39 PM

That looks fine, just stop messing with it before you contaminate it. Leave it alone..........

DutchMafia · 08-22-2012, 02:35 PM

Looks fine just give it some time and let the yeast do its job, I know its tough but you need patience and it will pay off

Kingfish · 08-22-2012, 02:51 PM

Looks like you are actually at 1.020. Most extract batches I have done have finished right about there. The other recommendations of letting it sit are wise. As general advise not knowing your recipe or yeast, I would advise taking another sample at the 2 week mark and then another a couple days later and if they are the same then on to the bottles.

You are to be congratulated.....YOU MADE BEER!!!!! And some great looking beer at that.

ETA: Two more things. Try to get your sample a bit higher up by putting the bottom of the thief against the side of the bucket instead of the bottom. Also don't be tempted to return the sample to the beer. Ok, three things. Give the hydrometer a spin after it settles... This will knock off any CO2 bubbles that may have clung to the hydrometer.

Edit again: The smell will be much different than a finished beer in a glass. As long as it does not smell soured...And even then, it could just be the yeast giving off some rough odors....Let it sit a good two weeks (3 or 4 would be even better.)
And the temp is no huge deal...It is still BEER!

tjwor · 08-23-2012, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the responses everyone!

The recipe is MWS Irish Red Ale with Dry Yeast...

I have touched it once since I put it in the chamber, and it was to get this gravity reading, so I don't feel like I have been "Messing with it" for no purpose...

I plan to put it into a secondary for a few reasons. The recipe suggests to do a secondary, with it being my first batch, I think it will be good to know the process and be able to see the results of a secondary in order to know for future batches if I would like to move them into a secondary, plus I have the time to do it so I figure I might as well!

I plan to take another reading this Saturday and will likely move it to the secondary early next week if everything stays consistent.

**Subsailor** · 08-23-2012, 10:18 PM

Looks good!

twilbrew247 · 08-23-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjwor

Thanks for the responses everyone!

The recipe is MWS Irish Red Ale with Dry Yeast...

I have touched it once since I put it in the chamber, and it was to get this gravity reading, so I don't feel like I have been "Messing with it" for no purpose...

I plan to put it into a secondary for a few reasons. The recipe suggests to do a secondary, with it being my first batch, I think it will be good to know the process and be able to see the results of a secondary in order to know for future batches if I would like to move them into a secondary, plus I have the time to do it so I figure I might as well!

I plan to take another reading this Saturday and will likely move it to the secondary early next week if everything stays consistent.

Secondary not completely necessary (IMO), but some will suggest it. Most recipes will suggest it. But you run the risk of oxidation or infection. After it's fermented out, you could "cold crash" it if you have the space. This is dropping the temp to 38-40*F to let the yeast floc out. Unless you're bottling. In which case you may want some yeast left over to carb. At any rate, congrats on the beer!