Is Fermentation complete?

[henrybeggs]

My Northern Brewer kit has been fermenting for two weeks now and I'm not sure if fermentation is complete yet. I modified the recipe by adding blood orange fruit and zest which I'm sure lengthened the fermentation process, but how can I tell when it is finished? In the past what I have done is just sanitize my hands and hydrometer and just drop it right into the bucket. The problem is that I do not want to get air into my brew, what should I do? Also I do not have a thief...
Thanks.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Use a turkey baster and pull a sample. The only way to know for sure if fermentation is complete is to take a gravity reading.

 

[Copbrew133]

If you had a vigorous fermentation, it is probably done (ale yeast?). Unless you start sloshing it around the minimal amount of air in contact with your brew while you get a hydro sample isn't going to hurt it. If you have the means you could always go to secondary with it and let it sit a couple more weeks or better yet leave it in primary for another week, won't hurt anything.

 

[Copbrew133]

+1 turkey baster, trip to WalMart.

 

[evrose]

but how can I tell when it is finished?

There are only two ways to be sure:

1. Two consecutive hydrometer readings over three days that do not change.

2. Taking off and nuking it from orbit.

I'd highly recommend #1 for a beginning brewer.