Didn't ever hear/see bubbles?

[p0svar]

so i'm brewing my first batch - Belgian White.

Followed everything as close as I could (i hope).

After 48 hours, not a peep from the bucket - no bubbles, no sounds, nothing. What happened? So pulled the bad boy out of the cabinet I have him hidden in. I pulled the top of the plastic bucket off - the level of liquid looks about an inch or so lower than it was two days ago. And there's a ring of solid stuff on the inside wall (I didn't touch it to find out what it was - it was a dark, muddy color). The liquid itself is an amber brown, the same color it was when I poured it in on day one. There was a little bit of white froth on the top, but not covering the entire surface, just here and there. Any of you professionals out there know what's going on? I sanitized a spoon and swirled it around again and put the top back on. This time I pushed the top down a LOT harder. I fear the top might not have been ALL THE WAY on the first time. Is that going to make my batch useless? Should I have used a winetheif to sneak a taste of the stuff?

Lots of questions. Oh, I don't have anymore yeast if repitching is in order - is that something I can buy at walmart, or do I need special yeast from a homebrew store?

Thanks,

jeremy

 

[Rhoobarb]

If you had no bubbles in your airlock, then your lid might not had been sealed as tight as it should have or it worked loose somehow. However, if, as you say, there's a ring of dark, muddy colored solid stuff on the inside wall and white froth on the top, then it sounds like you had fermentation. The only way to know beyond a shadow of a doubt would be to have taken gravity readings prior to pitching yeast and now.

If you are planning to use a secondary, then I'd let it sit to clear for another couple of days, then transfer. If you're only doing a primary fermention, add another couple of days the that (~4-5 days total) before bottling.

And, no Wally Mart will not have the yeast you need - bread yeast won't work at all. You would need to visit a local homebrew shop. However, I don't think you need to re-pitch. Just be patient.

What kind of yeast did you use?

 

[p0svar]

The yeast I used came in a little yellow packet (sorry I don't have the wrapper anymore) - there were little small balls of yeast per se. I didn't boil it or anything, I just sprinkled it on top of the 5 gallons, put the top on, and stored her away in a dark cabinet. I think that was what the directions said to do.

I did take a reading right before putting the top on - it was at 1.045. The kit said the begining gravity SHOULD have been 1.050-1.055. So was my 1.045 close enough? It says final gravity should be 1.010-1.015. I guess I will check that later tonight. So what you're saying is that I could take another reading now and that will tell me if it did ferment - I guess I didn't even think of that. obviously a beginner.

My kit came with a glass carboy, so I figured I would transfer it to that. It's only been two days though - so if the hydro reading is between 1.010 and 1.015, should i wait a couple of days and then rack to the glass carboy? If by tomorrow there is still no bubbling, when is a good time to rack to the glass and repitch?

Thanks for any insight.

j

 

[Walker]

also, p0svar. that ring of gunk is what is leftover from a large head of foamy krauesen that grew there in the last 2 days. it rose up that high and then collapsed back into the beer. perfectly normal. that's the sign that you have made beer.

-walker

 

[p0svar]

Okay, so I took a hydro reading - it came in at 1.0165. It started at 1.045. How do I calculate how much alcohol that is?

I should let it sit a few more days until it reaches the suggested 1.010-1.015 right? When it does reach that point, am I supposed to then put it into the glass carboy? How long does it sit there? My directions didn't have any glass carboy notes.

I also took a swig of the it before i tossed the sample into the sink - it was bitter, but tasted a little of alcohol, def. didn't taste as sweet as it did on day 1. That's sort of exciting. I guess it built up that Kreusen and whatnot when I wasn't paying attention - although I did watch it pretty consistently every 6-8 hours.

 

[Rhoobarb]

Probably Cooper's yeast. Anyhow, I really think you're good so far. And you're thinking is correct; let it sit a few more days - 2, 3, maybe 4 more days. I bet your gravity comes in at around 1.012. When you do rack to secondary, let it sit for as long as you can stand it. I usually let mine sit for 14 days. Your patience will be rewarded. It makes for a clearer, smoother tasting beer, IMHO. I usually bottle and let it condition for 3 weeks.

I know, it seems like a long time!

As for figuring ABV (alcohol by volume), I use ProMash and let it do the work! But a quick method that will get you in a very close ballpark is this:

(remove the decimal points) OG - FG -/- 7.46. In your case, let's assume a final gravity of 1.012. That would calculate to:

1045 - 1012 = 33 -/- 7.46 = 4.4% ABV

 

[Walker]

or just use this widget online

fill in the starting and ending gravity and press calculate.

Remember to adjust your gravity readings to account for temperature.


-walker

 

[Orfy]

or just use this widget online

fill in the starting and ending gravity and press calculate.

Remember to adjust your gravity readings to account for temperature.


-walker

What does the "Real" box indicate?

I put in OG 1045 FG 1002 and it says "Real = 1009.2"

 

[Walker]

sorry.. i have no idea what that one is.

-walker

 

[Darth Konvel]

What does the "Real" box indicate?

I put in OG 1045 FG 1002 and it says "Real = 1009.2"

That's your "Real Extract" SG. ie> If you removed all the alcohol in the brew, and replaced it with the same volume of water, that would be your SG (although the decimal point is in the wrong place, as it should be 1.0092). It's just a more accurate way of describing how much sugar is left unfermented.

 

[Walker]

it's common to move the decimal point three places to the right in your gravity readings.

1.045 is the same as 1045 (and that widget understands both ways), it just happens to show you the 'real' using the three-digit-decimal-shift style.

-walker