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jlinton · 09-20-2009, 02:18 AM

I just got into a homebrew kick and I am loving it. I am keeping things extremely basic for the time being until I can get some consistent results. I just did a brew house kit, a munich dark lager, and it behaved quite differently. The first fermentation was slow starting then took right off over flowing my primary (that was a first for me), but it did subside and I racked it today. Now, nothing, a few bubbles but not what I have come to expect from the previous kits I have done. Is there anything I can do? Wait? Add sugar? Add yeast?

HillbillyDeluxe · 09-20-2009, 02:23 AM

Wait RLBHAHB

FireNightFly · 09-20-2009, 02:26 AM

Gratz! Im new, too. Im keeping it as basic as possible until I really get the hang of partial grain or even full grain. Welcome to the addiction.

Id say that if there are bubbles, just be patient.
Adding sugar during fermentation will increase the (FG) proof.

Good luck!

LordHedgie · 09-20-2009, 02:32 AM

Rather than looking for bubbles, you're much better off taking gravity readings. Having said that, I wouldn't even bother with that in your case, just RDWHAHB. I don't see anything to worry about there at all.

jlinton · 09-20-2009, 02:53 AM

RLBHAHB??? RDWHAHB???? I thought that maybe the yeast had gotten too excited in the primary and converted all the sugars. If that is possible and is what happened then what am I doing waiting for the secondary fermentation? Just settling out sediment?

LordHedgie · 09-20-2009, 02:56 AM

Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Homebrew.

Yeast does more than just create alcohol, and just because the FG has been reached doesn't mean the beer's ready to drink yet. Do you have a hydrometer?

jlinton · 09-20-2009, 03:00 AM

I do, I took a reading before I added the yeast, 1.050 and now it is 1.010. FG?

**ISLAGI** · 09-20-2009, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlinton

I do, I took a reading before I added the yeast, 1.050 and now it is 1.010. FG?

Sounds like it is probably close.

What yeast did you use, or does the recipe give an estimated FG?

jlinton · 09-20-2009, 03:47 AM

I just used what the kit provided, I think it was coopers yeast. I am just starting to realize how little I know. I have been wandering around this site and am amazed at what guys do. I don't even know what fg abbreviates. How does it effect the beer if all the fermentation is done so fast? (three days)

LordHedgie · 09-20-2009, 04:06 AM

FG = Final Gravity

You're at 80% attenuation, which is actually pretty good and I'd say you've reached your final gravity, or at least pretty close. So leaving it in primary isn't going to change your gravity (or alcohol content) much if at all.

On the other hand, after only three days in primary most beer styles will taste "green." It's hard to describe green beer, but it's definitely unripe. Flavors are too harsh, yeast flavors too pronounced. My wife calls it "beer that tastes like the ingredients." There are a number of processes that help beer out, not unlike the "marrying" of blended whiskey that takes place over time. One important process is the yeast, done converting sugars to alcohol, will break apart some of the chemicals they produced earlier in the process in order to help them go into a dormant state. You should also see more clarifying as things settle, which will change flavor as proteins drop out of suspension.