A Story about Worrying

[BlainD]

I am always paranoid. I wait for the first bubble to tell me everything is ok. At 60 hours..... nothing.... Got out my hydrometer, bucket pry, pulled out the 5 gallon bucket. I was sure I hadn't cool the wort enough, or the yeast wasn't viable, or maybe I forgot to pitch, or who knows. I was ready for the worst. Was going to make a new starter tonight.

I pryed it open.....

My wort was at High Krausen.

Just goes to show there is rarely reason to worry.Take it from me RDWHAHB.

 

[skimo281]

Haven't had my first brew yet but in general I think the less you worry and stop second guessing yourself the better. I found out when I would read how to do things and what to expect I would over analyze everything but in reality everything turned out great.

 

[3vil]

Having no bubbles in ths air lock makes me wonder if you're getting a good seal between the bucket and the lid.

 

[RuffRider]

Having no bubbles in ths air lock makes me wonder if you're getting a good seal between the bucket and the lid.

Agreed. If you are obviously seeing signs of fermentation but no bubbles from the airlock, then that CO2 is escaping from somewhere else...most likely the lid.

 

[Revvy]

It doesn't matter if your airlock bubbles or not, or if you are getting a good seal or not. It's not a magic fermentation gauge, it's a VALVE for excess co2, if it's getting out elsewhere, or THERE'S JUST NOT ANY EXCESS CO2 FOR IT NEED TO BUBBLE, it doesn't really matter.

Nor is a slow bubbling or fast bubbling or not bubbling or stopped bubbling airlock a correlation between what the yeast are doing.

If you stop equating an airlock as some sort of indicator of fermentation, then you worry even less. Especially if you learn to just start trusting your yeast, and realizing that it's not 30 years ago, modern yeast tends to perform just like it's meant to do....it rarely let's us down. It may not behave like we THINK it should, i.e making an airlock bubble to your satisfaction, or finishing when you think it should, or starting when you think it should, but it almost never lets us down if we just get out of it's way.

 

[BlainD]

Having no bubbles in ths air lock makes me wonder if you're getting a good seal between the bucket and the lid.

Yeah I was wondering that but I'm not going to worry with this batch. Once I bottle I'll look at it close. May have not had the lid on correctly or the rubber gasket may be cut or something.

If you stop equating an airlock as some sort of indicator of fermentation, then you worry even less. Especially if you learn to just start trusting your yeast, and realizing that it's not 30 years ago, modern yeast tends to perform just like it's meant to do....it rarely let's us down. It may not behave like we THINK it should, i.e making an airlock bubble to your satisfaction, or finishing when you think it should, or starting when you think it should, but it almost never lets us down if we just get out of it's way.

Exactly!!!! Now if I can just practice what I'm Preach'n >_<