Fermentation Question

[Woundedwolf]

Hey everyone, first post. I'm currently brewing my first batch (malt extract Autumn Amber Ale from Midwest supplies). I've got a couple questions about how my fermentation is going.

It has been about 6 days since I pitched. I used liquid yeast, though I noticed later that a section of the nutrients didn't break when I hit the bag. I hadn't noticed much airlock activity, so I took a hydrometer reading today. The beer definitely had the fermentation smell I've read about. I am concerned though because the beer has an original gravity of 1.043 according to the box and my hydrometer is showing that it is at 1.04 even. Is this enough progress?

If not, would it be ok to re-pitch with dry yeast I have as well?

Thanks for the help!

 

[conneryis007]

Did the yeast package swell up after popping the inner bag and before you pitched it?

What temperatures (range) are you fermenting at?

Airlock activity is not an indicator of fermentation, more so an indication of pressure change and/or how tightly your fermenter is sealed!

 

[Woundedwolf]

Hmmm, well I believe I got the wort to 79 degrees before pitching. I'm fermenting at around 65 degrees in my house. The bag seemed to be swollen as far as I could tell. I forgot to take the initial hydrometer reading, so I have been doing guess work based off of the box/instructions. There is some bubbling, but not a lot.

 

[sherma]

is there a krausen on the beer? That is more of an indication than bubbles in an airlock that something is happening.

 

[Woundedwolf]

There does not appear to be any krausen, only some bubbling

 

[sherma]

So you are getting some bubbling in the airlock, but there is no foam on the top of the beer, correct? And it was one Wyeast package? How large is your batch?

 

[Woundedwolf]

Actually, the bubbling is on the beer itself and it has a very strong smell. It was one Wyeast package, and it is a 5 gallon batch. I also have some dry yeast that came with the kit, but was not called for in the instructions

 

[unionrdr]

Pitching at 79F was too high. When the temp went down to 65F,it may've made the yeast go to the bottom. It sounds like it's now trying to re-balance itself & start fermenting again. Gently swirling the fermenter with no splashing coul;d speed them up a little. Then leave it.

 

[Woundedwolf]

Gotcha, I'll see what I can do

 

[Woundedwolf]

Looks like that worked, I'm starting to get some bigger bubbles in my airlock. Thanks!

 

[unionrdr]

No problem,that's why we're all here.