checking fermentation progress - pic attached

[rhythm]

I have a German Blonde ale that's been in primary for 16 days now. After a very active first several days, requiring a blow-off tube, things have been very calm since then. I'm a little puzzled because nothing has changed at all visually for at least a week, and it seems like things have stalled , but it does look like there are some little bubbles in there. Does it appear that fermentation is still going on, and I'm just experiencing a long, slow finish before it's done? The foam from the active days is blocking the view quite a bit, making it harder for me to interpret what I'm seeing.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[FoxPaw]

rhythm, sounds like a normal fermentation, what temp has this been running at, mid 60ish ? Bubbles are just c02 bubbles from the yeast activity not to worry. The only way to tell for sure that it has hit terminal gravity is to take a hydrometer reading, then in a couple of days check it again, that will tell you if it is done. If it is then time to bottle/keg. Let us know how it goes.

David. Brew-on

 

[rhythm]

Hi David, yeah I kind of figured things were normal and that the bubbles around the top of the beer were just normal fermenting activity. The foam from the high activity is blocking my view of the surface quite a bit, so I was just double-checking with other people's eyes on it. Just seemed strange because after the way things started I figured it would be done and I really can't see in there very well to tell. But it's just going to take it's time...all is good. The fermenting temp has been between 62.5F and 64.5F (according to the probe taped to the side of the carboy). I raised it up just a bit yesterday.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[unionrdr]

If it still has that much krausen on top, it might still be finishing up slowly at those lower temps. It depends on the temp range the yeast works best at. It would be good at this point to take a gravity reading.

 

[rhythm]

OK, that's two votes for taking a gravity reading, so I guess I should take the advice!

Not knowing any better, I was thinking that the small bubbles meant that fermentation was definitely still going on, so I was hesitant to start taking readings. Regarding the krausen, I wasn't sure what the beer surface actually looks like (it looks like all of the foamy-looking stuff is what's leftover on the inside of the glass from the earlier 'blow-off' days of the fermentation, rather than what's on the beer surface), so I was confused about that a bit as well.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[McKnuckle]

Looks like encrusted high krausen remnants on top, pretty clear beer below, with a film of small unsettled yeast on the surface, and de-gassing CO2 bubbles. Probably done! But I'd take a hydro reading too after 16 days.