Coupla qick questions on primary fermentation from a complete noob...

[timeferabrew]

Just started my 1st batch a little over a week ago, it's an American Pale kit. Everything seed to go fine during the brewing stage, put it in the primary (6 gal on plastic bucket), put the primary in a Rubbermaid tub just in case of blowoff/leaking, stuck it in a dark corner behind the bar and waited. My airlock never bubbled that I saw, but I moved it to the secondary in a 5 gallon car boy tonight after 9 days in the primary and noticed a little liquid in the tub like there'd been some blow off from under the lid. My worry is that my bucket isn't sealing airtight...I know it's old but it was purpose built just after legalization (yes, that would be during the Carter administation) and it is in excellent condition. Final piece of info, I did see the fermentation process happening through the side of the bucket. All that said, question 1 is...is my batch ruined? Question 2 is, should I pop for a new bucket? My final question is, I siphoned into a glass car boy tonight and while cleaning up my primary I started wondering if I should have included some of the sediment in the secondary to let the yeasties clean up after themselves? Final question...all this really makes me want a beer..is that normal???

 

[kgraber]

1. Your batch should be fine
2. I would get a new bucket. Cheap insurance.
3. You'll have enough yeast in suspension so no worries on your third question.

I don't secondary. I just leave my beer on the yeast for 3-4 weeks and then bottle. The 3 batches I've done so far have turn out really good.

 

[timeferabrew]

Thanks for the info/advice! Everything looked and smelled normal during moving between stages, just wanted to seek the voice of experience. I've read that alot of people don't do the 2nd anymore, I'm really just doing it as a clearing stage, don't expect a lot of fermentation going on. Thanks again.

 

[RM-MN]

The purpose of the lid on your fermenter bucket is to keep dirt, bacteria, wild yeast, etc. from getting into your beer. Once it starts fermenting the CO2 produced pretty much pushes everything out anyway. You could replace the lid with aluminum foil or saran wrap and it would work just fine.

If you included some of the sediment into your secondary, you could just as well have left it in the primary since the secondary really only serves as a place to let the yeast settle out. In fact, you would probably be better off just leaving it in the primary and the yeast will settle out there just as well.

 

[Love2BrewCrew]

Fermentation takes time but also you may just be missing it depending on the time you're looking.

As mentioned just give it time it should be fine.

 

[dbldd]

Im a noob as well but have learned that bubbling isnt really the best/only/most efficient way to confirm fermentation...the only true way is to get a gravity reading, as long as that moves you know the yeast is doing its job.

 

[RugerRedhawk]

Yeah a quick gravity reading when transferring would tell. You could take a sample with a sanitized turkey baster now and see what it is at, this would let you know if the fermentation is complete.