Been a month and still activity

[Ondori]

So, I have a porter that should be ready to start bottling this weekend. It has been a month in primary, but there is still activity in the bubbler. Should I let it keep going until it dies out or should I rack it into the keg? I tasted it today, and it is coming along beautifully. I didn't get to check the gravity though :/ forgot my hydrometer at my friends house from last brew day.

I fermented at 64 for the first 2 weeks and 68 for the past two weeks. I am using s-04. I am still getting at least 1 bubble a minute. Been this way for at least a week.

 

[phuff7129]

You need to go to your friends house and get your hydrometer.

 

[biohaz7331]

I second this ^ Air lock bubbling does not mean anything compared to gravity reading. Co2 could be slowly getting released and your fermentation could have finished a while ago. Also what is the recommended length of fermentation for the beer you are doing? Is it a minimum of a month primary, or is that the max?

 

[Ondori]

Thanks guys. Guess ill be making a trip tomorrow. The fermentation was supposed to be 2 weeks and then 2 weeks in secondary. I just left in primary though. Waiting for kegs to get her, and I'll just rack it in. When I checked my gravity last, I was only 2 points away. That was over a week ago. I just thought the yeast were still working because of those releases. Learn something new everyday lol

 

[chumpsteak]

With the S04 that beer was probably done fermenting in about 3 days.

 

[dabeez]

As for the bubbles in the OP it seems likely that something is still fermenting. A finished beer might give off some CO2 if the temperature is increased, but would stop when the temperature stabilized or decreased.

I have no experience with S-04 but from what I read it does get through the primary ferment quickly. The process to convert the more complex carbohydrates to something fermentable may take longer. This is why beer is not finished in a couple of days.

If it was my beer I would take a gravity and taste every couple of days. Giving it some more time might be awesome.