Fermentation just stopped?

[PortusCale]

Hi everyone,

I just brewed a Belgian Dark Strong Ale (OG 1.088) and I'm having an odd behavior on my airlock.

I brewed on Thursday afternoon and it started vigorously bubbling in the same day and it kept bubbling for the next day. Then it suddenly stopped. I had no activity at all in the next day nor any sign of activity in the airlock.

Usually I have a lot of activity in the first days and that it keeps bubbling slowly, never happened this behavior. I don't even any sign of gas pressure, the water lines are flat.

Room temperature is about 20°C (68°F).

Any thoughts?

Thank you

 

[divrack]

Leak? Or it's finished, or it's stalled.
Not enough information to hazard a guess.

 

[PortusCale]

Leak? Or it's finished, or it's stalled.
Not enough information to hazard a guess.

Hope it's a leak.

It's a small batch (only 12l - about 3 gal) but even though I think it's too soon to have it finished.

If it's stalled, is it safe to let it sit for a few days and then try to "wake it up"?

 

[Pkrd]

Take a gravity reading.

 

[divrack]

Look inside. If there's still bubbles and whatnot it's a leak. Take a sample and if you can, measure gravity or taste.
No real harm in leaving but also no harm in rousing it a bit now.

 

[carluchi]

Agreed on gravity reading, that is the only way to verify if there is activity. Three readings over a few days that are each the same indicates no more activity.

 

[PortusCale]

Thank you for the feedback. Unfortunately I'll be out until Thursday but then I'll do that.

 

[PortusCale]

So, yesterday took a sample and everything seems ok.

It is now 1.014 which is supposed to be the FG. It is clearly a non-finished beer yet but it is very tasty.

So, this is one more to the book of "if you're airlock isn't bubbling, don't freak out"

BTW, I think the leak is in the junction between the airlock and the bucket. When the fermentation was at full speed, the amount of gas was so big that the airlock bubbled anyway. When it slowed, the air produced just kept escaping through the leak.