Fermentation and Airlock Questions

[c0sm0nautt]

I put my first brew in the primary fermenter Saturday around 5 PM (over 48 hours ago). I read that my airlock should be at this point with about half water and c02 should be bubbling out of the airlock. This does not seem to be the case. My airlock has a tiny bit of water and some condensation, but I am not seeing any positive sights of fermentation.

I opened up the lid to take a peak inside and noticed that there is a nice layer of foam on top of the beer-to-be-hopefully. What did for my oxygenation process is fill up the remaining needed water in the fermeter with the jet hose on my sink - Do you think this was good enough? I mixed a few times with a spoon as well.

If my airlock is not bubbling by tomorrow night (over 3 days in) can I try re-oxygenating by pouring my wort from bucket to bucket and re-pitching some dry yeast?

 

[Smokeater233]

If you see a white layer of foam then it's entirely possible the fermentation took place and you missed it. Give it another day or so and see if the white foam (called krausen) starts to fade and then if you have a hydrometer use that to determine if fermentation did at least begin.

 

[lumpher]

if there is a layer of foam, it's been doing something good. at this point you do need to take a reading.

 

[Gridlocked]

I would guess that you introduced plenty of O2 into the beer with the jet hose, so I would guess that you'll be fine there. I've been fine with much less. Is your bucket lid on tight? What type of air lock do you have and did you fill that to the right line? If you have krausen, something is happening so my guess would be that there is a problem with the bucket lid or the air lock isn't tight or filled right.

 

[TomSD]

You did fill your airlock right?

 

[frazier]

I read that my airlock should be at this point with about half water and c02 should be bubbling out of the airlock.

Yes - but you have to put the water in there. It doesn't sound to me like you did... were you expecting the water to appear by itself?

This does not seem to be the case. My airlock has a tiny bit of water and some condensation, but I am not seeing any positive sights of fermentation.

So you opened the lid, and what did you see? Positive signs of fermentation! If you had put water (or Star-San, or Vodka) in the airlock, you would most likely have been seeing the bubbling action.

OK, now relax - everything is off to a good start. Put the lid back, put some water in the airlock, and let it sleep for another couple weeks. During that time, it will seem to be doing nothing when in fact it is finishing its fermentation. Give it the time it needs. There will be plenty of time to check a hydrometer reading after a couple weeks.

 

[c0sm0nautt]

Yes - but you have to put the water in there. It doesn't sound to me like you did... were you expecting the water to appear by itself?


So you opened the lid, and what did you see? Positive signs of fermentation! If you had put water (or Star-San, or Vodka) in the airlock, you would most likely have been seeing the bubbling action.

OK, now relax - everything is off to a good start. Put the lid back, put some water in the airlock, and let it sleep for another couple weeks. During that time, it will seem to be doing nothing when in fact it is finishing its fermentation. Give it the time it needs. There will be plenty of time to check a hydrometer reading after a couple weeks.

Thanks fellas. I thought the water appears by itself.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks fellas. I thought the water appears by itself.

Don't worry about it. Even though the airlock is on there for protection, there was so much co2 coming out of there from fermentation that nothing could have crawled in there anyway. Just fill it up to the line with vodka or water, and it'll be fine.

 

[Gridlocked]

I usually keep a 20oz water bottle near my fermentation area with either StarSan or Vodka and check it every day for the first few days to make sure it's filled to the proper line. StarSan will bubble out of the top as the CO2 passes through it.

 

[tunoffun]

Don't worry about it. Even though the airlock is on there for protection, there was so much co2 coming out of there from fermentation that nothing could have crawled in there anyway. Just fill it up to the line with vodka or water, and it'll be fine.

I prefer vodka, or even everclear, if you're fermenting in a plastic bucket. Anytime you flex the bucket or lid, as you'll do removing the lid, moving the bucket, etc.. you'll likely create a temporary vacuum which will suck whatever you're using in your airlock right down into the fermenter. It's for this reason I don't care for using sanitizing solution in the airlock as some people do.

Vodka is far less likely to harbor / introduce contaminates than water, and if it does get sucked in, it won't be enough quantity to alter you ABV or taste in any detectable way.

 

[TomSD]

Many times there is suckback too between the time you close everything up and the time fermentation starts pushing out bubbles of CO2. There isn't always enough to draw liquid back into your fermentation bucket/carboy but it does happen. Either way it isn't much and starsan solution or vodka won't hurt your brew and greatly reduces the chance of infection.

 

[c0sm0nautt]

Thanks for the tips, I think I'll use Gin in my airlock. I notice bubble coming through it now. I'm excited. Do you guys recommended single or double stage fermentation for Ales?

 

[frazier]

I think most of us just leave it in the primary for 3 - 4 weeks, then bottle or keg.

A secondary may be called for in the case of adding fruit in the secondary; or prolonged bulk aging of a big beer. Otherwise, don't bother. Even dry hopping can be done in the primary after the kreusen has died down.

Back to the airlock: vodka may be preferable to gin because of its neutral flavor. But hey, people have been known to brew with spruce tips or juniper berries, so go for it!

 

[MikeRoBrew1]

Pull the airlock out before removing or replacing the lid to avoid suckback. I know it's fun to check, but no need to worry. Just let it sit for 3-4 weeks and she will be ready to rock. Krausen can last a day or weeks.

 

[TomSD]

That is why I like glass carboys I can see all the action... beer porn at its finest. They still get suckback but it is minor and has to do with pitching and cooling or something as it isn't the container flexing.

 

[ratfarmer]

One of my brew buddies drank the vodka out of his airlock because he said its alcohol abuse if he pours it out! Hehe