Air lock not bubbling anymore?

[blamparek13]

Is my yeast dead? Put our wert in the primary fermenter and the airlock started bubbling for about the first 24 hours and then completely stopped. Any ideas of what is going on or what went wrong.

 

[cbrewcrew]

what are you fermenting and what temperature? From what I have seen, airlock means nothing. Beer can ferment like crazy then the yeast slow down but are still working. Let it sit and do its thing. The only way to know for sure is to take a gravity testing.

 

[blamparek13]

I'm brewing a Irish red ale. The temperature right now is 70° gravity test came out to 1.103. It's been in the primary fermenter since friday.

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[petrolSpice]

I'm brewing a Irish red ale. The temperature right now is 70° gravity test came out to 1.103. It's been in the primary fermenter since friday.

Agreed with above, no bubbles doesn't mean its not fermenting. Gravity readings are the only way to know for sure.

An SG 1.103 sounds like you are reading it incorrectly.

Is there any krausen (tan foam) on top of the beer?

 

[STL_Lucas]

I agree an 1.103 must be wrong. If you mean 1.013 then it could be done fermenting.

 

[masonsjax]

Airlock is just to keep potentially harmful air from getting into your vessel. They will bubble (or not) for many different reasons and are not a definitive measure of the progress your beer is (or is not) making. I'm guessing you typo'd that gravity reading and it's at 1.013 not 1.103. Just take a second reading a few days later and if it's stable, the fermentation is done. Let the beer sit for another week or three on the yeast before moving it, then put it in bottles or keg it.

 

[cbrewcrew]

yeah 1.103 would be crazy. You sure that is the right reading? I would take a gravity test, wait a couple days, take another gravity test. If there is no change in gravity then it is done.

 

[blamparek13]

Thank you for all of the imput. I'll take another reading and see what it says. Yes I have Krausen on the top of the beer
But could It really be done fermenting in 3 days

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[cbrewcrew]

Completely done? Probably not. I would say it needs at least 10 days. Even if it is slowly working, it is still working.

 

[blamparek13]

Thats what the directions said. Being my first brew I'm really confused

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[cbrewcrew]

What did your directions say?

 

[masonsjax]

Very active fermentation can chew through the fermentables in mere hours. Some would call that "done". Just trust the hydrometer and leave it for a few days past when the readings are stable. Once your process is down you'll hit the numbers like clockwork and you'll also have a lot of other batches going and probably won't even bother taking readings until a couple weeks have passed, if at all. I very rarely take a gravity reading at all anymore, but when learning and dialing in your process, it's the only way to be sure of the results.

 

[blamparek13]

What did your directions say?

I used wyeast and it started to form Krausen and CO2 the day after


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[cbrewcrew]

Sounds right. I would wait at least another week if I were you. That would get you to day 10? Wait even longer if you want. Don't rush it out of the fermenter though.

 

[blamparek13]

Would you recommend switching it to the secondary fermenter on day five?

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[peterj]

Would you recommend switching it to the secondary fermenter on day five?

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No, you don't need a secondary for this beer. And I would never transfer anything to a secondary that early.

 

[cbrewcrew]

What peterj said. It's your first batch, right? Hard to sit and wait, but it will make the beer better.

 

[Damoxemus]

Would you recommend switching it to the secondary fermenter on day five?

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On my very first brew I followed similar instructions to what you have and it turned out.... not good. Tons of acetaldehyde (green apple flavour). Since then I've kept all my beers on the yeast for at least 14 days (and up to 35, depending on the style and other factors) and they have all turned out much, much better.

You probably don't need to do a secondary at all. Personally, I'd go 2-3 weeks, then bottle. Assuming the gravity readings show it has stabilized and the beer tastes good.

 

[blamparek13]

Thanks for the imput guys I'm going to keep it in the primary fermenter and wait til the gravity reading stabilizes

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