Fermenting Question

[Brewing-Yankee]

Hi All,

I did a quick search for a similar issue that might answer my problem and saw this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/there-something-wrong-did-i-mess-up-435634/
My batch also started with 2 days of activity through the bubbler along with foam going through it. Now there is also no signs of activty and it is only day 3.

I do not have equipment to guage specific or original gravity. How will i know if fermentation has ended. the kit instructions say 2 weeks plus or minus a day or so.

and this thread says i really really need a hydrometer to check.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/question-about-fermenting-397885/

I'm hoping at least for this batch there's a non-hydrometer way to guage when i should start to bottle.

northernbrewer 1 gallon small batch kit. irish red ale.
yeast was pitched following the directions on the small batch kit. dry not rehydrated as the direction on the yeast packet says. temp was 78 when pitched.
temp readings around 64-74 7am; 4pm; 7pm

fermentation is in a 1 gallon glass carboy. carboy is half immersed in water in a 2 gallon stainless steal pot. placed in a cool dry closet.

thanks, i look forward to the help.

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

I would invest in a hydrometer.. cheap and really the only way to be sure....
and even if the fermentation is "done" leaving it alone a couple of weeks can only help.

 

[andy6026]

It is quite common that you'll get visible airlock activity for the first couple of days, and then nothing visible at all. Primary fermentation is in those first few days and that's when it's very active. After that, the yeast will slowly continue to work on the remaining sugars and the gravity will creep down to final gravity over the next week or so. If you don't have a hydrometer, your fermentation temps are within the acceptable range for the yeast, AND it's not an especially high gravity beer, then I'd say in 2 weeks you'd be safe to bottle. This is not, of course, a guarantee, but if there's no way for you to take successive readings to find out then what are you going to do???

If you want to play it safe then wait until after a total of 3 weeks, then bottle.

 

[Brewing-Yankee]

awesome. Thanks OhioSteve and thanks Andy6026. I'll do just that. Sit & wait. Thanks for helping a new brewer.

 

[jrgtr42]

It is quite common that you'll get visible airlock activity for the first couple of days, and then nothing visible at all. Primary fermentation is in those first few days and that's when it's very active. After that, the yeast will slowly continue to work on the remaining sugars and the gravity will creep down to final gravity over the next week or so. If you don't have a hydrometer, your fermentation temps are within the acceptable range for the yeast, AND it's not an especially high gravity beer, then I'd say in 2 weeks you'd be safe to bottle. This is not, of course, a guarantee, but if there's no way for you to take successive readings to find out then what are you going to do???

If you want to play it safe then wait until after a total of 3 weeks, then bottle.

Came to say this.

 

[unionrdr]

A good glass hydrometer is only about $5.99. Get one & be sure when it's done. Exploding bottle shards hurt...

 

[brew_ny]

Get one & be sure when it's done.

get two and you will never break one

S_M

 

[newbies13]

Have to agree with everyone here, if you are brewing beer there is no reason for you to not own a hydrometer. They are like $6, if that's an issue, you probably can't afford beer as a hobby.

If you HAD to do it anyway though, I have done around 10 batches and two weeks has been more than enough time for fermentation of all my beers. I normally get 2-4 days of heavily bubbling followed by almost nothing. The extra week lets the yeast do some cleanup, before you move onto your next step, as well ensuring they have eaten all they are going to.

 

[IL1kebeer]

A 1 gallon batch pitched with dry yeast would have no problem being done in 2-3 days as long as everything was done properly. An experienced brewer shouldn't even have to take a gravity reading to know that it has finished.

That being said, since you aren't experienced enough to know the signs of a finished fermentation I would advise you to obtain a hydrometer or wait the two weeks as recommended by the kit. If you are really not wanting to buy a hydrometer for whatever reason then give it a taste. If it tastes like beer then it's probably done. If you decide to bottle by using the "taste" method then do so at your own risk.

 

[unionrdr]

You can't really "see" when a beer has hit FG. It'll start to clear as active initial fermentation slows down. But it's still uneventfully fermenting down to a stable FG,even if it can't actually be seen as finished.

 

[IL1kebeer]

You can't really "see" when a beer has hit FG. It'll start to clear as active initial fermentation slows down. But it's still uneventfully fermenting down to a stable FG,even if it can't actually be seen as finished.

Sure you can if you know your recipe and you are familiar with the yeast you are using. For example, I have an ipa that I brew a lot and by the 7th day like clockwork the krausen drops and the FG is 1.09. After seeing this pattern over and over I became confident enough to skip the gravity reading and keg on the 11th day. Of course i pour a small sample to taste after i rack to the keg just to make sure everything is in like.

I wouldn't recommend for the OP to do this since he doesn't sound like he is familiar with the recipe or the yeast. I just wanted to keep his mind open that he can use his senses once he gets more experience. Every brewery needs a hydrometer though. That is a give in.

 

[unionrdr]

I'd rather rely on my instrument's than educated guesses from experiences. Since no ferment is exactly the same,once in a while they can fool you.

 

[IL1kebeer]

I'd rather rely on my instrument's than educated guesses from experiences. Since no ferment is exactly the same,once in a while they can fool you.

To each his own. That's what's so great about this hobby.