First batch, airlock and temperature questions

[Hrasvelg]

Hey everyone, working on my first batch of beer here and i have a few questions for some of you more experienced home brewers. I began about three days ago with a nut brown ale recipe. I relize that the yeast wants to sit at around 70 degrees during the fermentation process, however i have had a difficult time keeping my apartment below 90 during the day. to solve this i have put my (glass) carboy in the tub with a bit of cold water. Now on day three my airlock activity has dropped to about 2-4 bubbles every 60 seconds. Is this normal? is the reduced airlock activity a result of the high temperature? Thank you all for your replies, Cheers!

-M.O

 

[Hrasvelg]

Also, the gasses coming from my airlock have grown less... appatizing... than during the first two days of fermentation. I'm not sure if that detail will help, but if it's a symptom of a spoiled batch please let me know.

 

[GodsStepBrother]

That is normal, do not worry about it. The most vigorous part of fermentation has passed that is all. Keep adding cold bottles of water to that water bath, 90 degrees is pretty hot. Keep in mind that yeast eating is exo thermic. So you can add 4 to 10 degrees to the ambient temperature and that is what the temp inside the carboy is.

What recipe is this that you brewed?

 

[Hrasvelg]

Ok, that is good to know! Since it is my first try i used canned ingredients. The nut brown was made by Mountmellick, which included its own yeast and hopped malt extract

 

[temptnmonkey]

higher temperature = faster fermentation. Which is why high temps are bad. yeast get a little sloppy and produce off flavors (non technical terms).

In the future, look up swamp cooler. Cheap and easy way to get a little control on temperature.

Also, don't judge fermentation by airlock activity. And make sure you give it as much time in the primary as you're willing to wait (2-3 weeks). Chances are it fermented at a slightly high temperature, so it may have a few off flavors what should be cleaned up. That takes some time.

Don't worry about it now. At this time, you don't want to be moving your fermenter around anymore. Post-fermentation oxygen is not your friend.

All will be well! Have fun!

 

[GodsStepBrother]

Sorry I said "adding cold bottles of water," I meant to say frozen bottles of water to the bath of water. This will help out with cooling the beer down while it ferments. There is still a lot going on in this beer so be patient leave it at least 3 weeks in your fermentor so it can clean up some of the by products it has made.

Congrats on your first beer!

 

[Hrasvelg]

Thanks for the tips guys. I have added water and ice to the bath and the fermometer is now reading 76 degrees. I'll try to keep it at that temperature for the rest of its time in the primary. Hopefuly the fluctuatoin in temperatures has not ruined the flavor .

 

[Hrasvelg]

Update: After lowering the temperature down into the 70's region the airlock activity ceaced entierly for about 10-15 minites, and then increased. I love this swamp cooler methode, wont make the mistake of working without one again!

 

[unionrdr]

It slowed down because you lowered the temp it became acclimated to. Once it gets used to the lower temp it should've been at it starts up again. Albeit slower once initial fermentation is over. It'll then start on the long haul down to FG. Get a hydrometer if you don't have one. That's the only sure way to know...

 

[mrk305]

Don't worry about the bubbles in the airlock anymore. You know you had some good fermenting going on, now just wait. Empty some bottles for a few weeks.