Ed_Savage
Well-Known Member
Okay so I brewed my first batch last Monday. It is a Portland Style Hefe. Everything went great. The hydrometer reading was 1.054 before I pitched the yeast into the plastic primary (Monday 5-9-05 @11pm).
My problem is that I totally forgot to top it off to 5 gallons.
So anyway....... I experienced a violent fermentation after 24 hours. I installed a blow-off tube after discovering my airlock had shot to the celing and krausen was everywhere. Saturday fermentation slowed down to about a bubble every 30-40 sec. so I racked to glass secondary (Saturday 5-14-05 @ 4pm) (hydometer reading about 1.015). We'll thats when I realized I forgot to top off to 5 gallons, as I said above. I was probably about 3.75 to 4 gallons. I was pissed because I really want to get my full two cases worth of beer.
I called my local HBS for advice, and asked if it would hurt to top off this late in the game. They advised me that as long as I boil the water first, or use some sort of filtration, it should be fine. And to make sure the temp is around 68-72 deg. before I introduce the new water to my wort.
Well I took that advice, topped up to 5 gal in my carboy, and now I have had zero activity from my airlock ever since. I don't want to mess with it anymore until I get some solid advice on what to do. It has now been 7 solid days. Should I go ahead and wait it out? Add more yeast? take another reading, and if it is around 1.010 just bottle up?
I am a complete novice at this, and I know I shouldda left it alone. Then I wouldda had about 4 gallons of rich, strong beer. Any help would be nice!!!
My problem is that I totally forgot to top it off to 5 gallons.
So anyway....... I experienced a violent fermentation after 24 hours. I installed a blow-off tube after discovering my airlock had shot to the celing and krausen was everywhere. Saturday fermentation slowed down to about a bubble every 30-40 sec. so I racked to glass secondary (Saturday 5-14-05 @ 4pm) (hydometer reading about 1.015). We'll thats when I realized I forgot to top off to 5 gallons, as I said above. I was probably about 3.75 to 4 gallons. I was pissed because I really want to get my full two cases worth of beer.
I called my local HBS for advice, and asked if it would hurt to top off this late in the game. They advised me that as long as I boil the water first, or use some sort of filtration, it should be fine. And to make sure the temp is around 68-72 deg. before I introduce the new water to my wort.
Well I took that advice, topped up to 5 gal in my carboy, and now I have had zero activity from my airlock ever since. I don't want to mess with it anymore until I get some solid advice on what to do. It has now been 7 solid days. Should I go ahead and wait it out? Add more yeast? take another reading, and if it is around 1.010 just bottle up?
I am a complete novice at this, and I know I shouldda left it alone. Then I wouldda had about 4 gallons of rich, strong beer. Any help would be nice!!!