I just started my first batch 2 days ago. after about 12 hours the fermentation was going crazy, the airlock was bubbling rather rapidly and I understand thats normal, now less than one day later, the airlock has slowed to bubbling maybe once every minute?!?!?!? is this normal??
JUST SO YOU KNOW: I sanitized EVERYTHING very carefully, but I bummed out on the sanitation when I added the water (to top off to 5 gallons), I didn't pre boil, straight from the tap to the fermenter (I transported it in a sanitized pot though).
Im thinking maybe there was so much bacteria in my tapwater, that its already taken over and slowed/stopped my fermentation?!?!?
But AFAIK tapwater here is already sanitized, hence why I didnt want to pre boil (plus my wort was already chilled and I didnt have any preboiled on hand)
So you think I spoiled my first batch? I smelled the top of the airlock, it smells OK, like fermenting beer I guess.
EDIT: some more info, its at about 65 degrees or so, im using a water bath with ice (in a cooler, like the kind you bring to the beach with drinks...) and it varies from the bottom of the cooler to the top ( at bottom few degrees warmer at top so 64-67)
JUST SO YOU KNOW: I sanitized EVERYTHING very carefully, but I bummed out on the sanitation when I added the water (to top off to 5 gallons), I didn't pre boil, straight from the tap to the fermenter (I transported it in a sanitized pot though).
Im thinking maybe there was so much bacteria in my tapwater, that its already taken over and slowed/stopped my fermentation?!?!?
But AFAIK tapwater here is already sanitized, hence why I didnt want to pre boil (plus my wort was already chilled and I didnt have any preboiled on hand)
So you think I spoiled my first batch? I smelled the top of the airlock, it smells OK, like fermenting beer I guess.
EDIT: some more info, its at about 65 degrees or so, im using a water bath with ice (in a cooler, like the kind you bring to the beach with drinks...) and it varies from the bottom of the cooler to the top ( at bottom few degrees warmer at top so 64-67)