Fermenting Mystery ?

[Ray Dorset]

I pressed 8 gallon of fresh cider in meticulously clean apparatus and split into 2 x 4 gal vessels.

In one I added a packet of lalvin 71B in the other a packet of lalvin EC 118.
The 118 took off really well. No activity in the airlock of 71b.

Thought I must have a bad 71b yeast packet so made a starter with the must with different yeasts from different suppliers. All failed. Sterlised the must with Campden tablets to start again. Checked SG before adding the new culture It had fallen from 1.04 to 1.01 ?

How can this happen with a closed lid and no regularly checked airlock activity ?

 

[Maylar]

leaky airlock

 

[Ray Dorset]

Nice idea Maylar. I checked the bubble airlock a few times. It still had water in and when you pushed it up and down in the grommet seal the water level moved as you would expect.

 

[Maylar]

Closed lid gasket leak? It's surprising how much pressure it takes to bubble an airlock. You can't drop 30 SG points without making some CO2.

 

[Ray Dorset]

This is really helpful Maylar. It all looks sealed but something must be leaking - I cannot escape the fact that the SG dropped 30 points so it must have fermented ? And only yeast could have done this ? So it must have turned the sugar to alcohol ?

 

[bracconiere]

So it must have turned the sugar to alcohol ?

if you have both a refractometer, and hydrometer. you can tell for sure? but if you have a leaky lid, acteto bacter like O2. not sure how acetic acid effects that trick?

 

[Maylar]

This is really helpful Maylar. It all looks sealed but something must be leaking - I cannot escape the fact that the SG dropped 30 points so it must have fermented ? And only yeast could have done this ? So it must have turned the sugar to alcohol ?

Well, if your readings were correct then yes, you have alcohol. What does it look like? Do you have some foam on the top?

 

[IslandLizard]

How can this happen with a closed lid and no regularly checked airlock activity ?

Fermenting in buckets?
Bucket lids tend to not seal so well. Leaks around the rim, usually, but could be along the lid and airlock grommet too.

 

[Ray Dorset]

Mystery Solved

I thought I was going mad but it is indeed a leaking bucket rim/ lid. No sign at all of any damage but it leaks from one area.

Thanks for all your help Maylar, Island Lizard and Bracconiere.