So,
Last friday, 7/17/9, my friend helped me brew my first all grain batch. I used Palmer's recipe for an american amber, and was real excited to test out my newly built MLT. The brew day had a few kinks, between the stuck sparge, the incoming thunderstorm, and me not knowing how to properly smack an activator pack (took me a few tries, and didn't realize i hadn't broken the inner pack).
when it was all said and done, the gravity looked good (1.048) and eveything was cleaned up an put away. four days later and no signs of fermentation. so, i went and got another smack pack, got it right this time and added more yeast. Bought a thermometer sticker at the homebrew store and found out the fermenting bucket was at 78 F. moved the whole set up into the basement, where its now 68-70. After 24hrs, no bubbles in the airlock yet. When do I worry? and what can i do?
On the bright side (and there is always a bright side) my second batch, an IPA kit i made, is finally ready. tried the first bottle tonight, and poured it slowly into a glass to see a beautiful head, with a very clear body. Oh, and it tastes amazing, although not as hoppy as i thought it would be. still, very well balanced and the long conditioning with oak chips seems to have paid off.
cheers all
Last friday, 7/17/9, my friend helped me brew my first all grain batch. I used Palmer's recipe for an american amber, and was real excited to test out my newly built MLT. The brew day had a few kinks, between the stuck sparge, the incoming thunderstorm, and me not knowing how to properly smack an activator pack (took me a few tries, and didn't realize i hadn't broken the inner pack).
when it was all said and done, the gravity looked good (1.048) and eveything was cleaned up an put away. four days later and no signs of fermentation. so, i went and got another smack pack, got it right this time and added more yeast. Bought a thermometer sticker at the homebrew store and found out the fermenting bucket was at 78 F. moved the whole set up into the basement, where its now 68-70. After 24hrs, no bubbles in the airlock yet. When do I worry? and what can i do?
On the bright side (and there is always a bright side) my second batch, an IPA kit i made, is finally ready. tried the first bottle tonight, and poured it slowly into a glass to see a beautiful head, with a very clear body. Oh, and it tastes amazing, although not as hoppy as i thought it would be. still, very well balanced and the long conditioning with oak chips seems to have paid off.
cheers all