First Beer Udate/Problems

[MountAiryBrew]

so i just started my first batch of beer on the Friday august 23. I had really intense blowoff starting the next morning till Sunday morning. Everyone said that blowoff is fine and continued to let my beer sit. After sunday morning the blow off quit but i noticed that i had no signs of anymore fermentation. the airlock has been motionless for over a day now. I took a reading and got 1.020. and plan on taking another reading today to see if anything has changed. Would putting it in my second fermentor this early be ok? and if i do transfer it over will it have any effects as to show that anything more is happening? or should i go ahead and bottle the beer if the reading stays at the 1.020 and let the bottles sit for a while?

 

[DrNecropolis]

The airlock isnt a good indication of activity, and from what I understand, it might have stalled at 1.020 (I'll let a vet give more advice on that) and if so, it it gets bottled high, it could be a good way to end up with a batch of bottle bombs..

I would hold off for a while, 4 days seems really short for fermenting and bottling..

Secondary seems like an unnecessary step these days, just ride it out longer in primary to hopefully let the fermentation finish up and the yeast clean up and do its thing..

 

[mtyquinn]

Keep that beer on the yeast longer. Most of your ferment is probably done but you could still drop a few points. 4 days is not enough.

 

[flars]

Secondary fermentor is a misnomer. The secondary vessel is usually used for clearing a brew, dry hopping, or other additions. Transferring before fermentation is complete will usually stall the fermentaion if it not complete.

Give your beer more time. Take a SG reading every few days for a week or so. Bottling before fermentation is complete can be a disaster. You may get exploding bottles as the yeast finish the fermentaion and eat up the priming sugar.

SG of 1.020 seems high for a typical finished fermentation. What was your brew and the yeast used?

 

[MountAiryBrew]

I used the brewhouse winterfest ale kit. not sure on the exact yeast that comes with those kits.

I am getting a fridgerator with the thermostat controller in a few days... do you think putting it in there and controlling the temperature better ( maybe around mid to uper 60's) would help finish the fermenting?

 

[boydster]

Temp control (low to mid 60's usually) is most important in the first few days, when fermentation is most vigorous. Now you are past that point, so the yeast will benefit from slowly letting the temp come up to around 70 to help them finish.

 

[sok454]

What are you shooting for in terms of a FG? If its a winter ale that is a bit stronger you may be where you need to be. The only risk you run if it stops at 1.020 and was supposed to be lower is it may be a bit sweeter and not as dry as it maybe should have been. Probably will not be noticiable to you.

 

[brewkinger]

Keep that beer on the yeast longer. Most of your ferment is probably done but you could still drop a few points. 4 days is not enough.

To paraphrase another HBT user..

The initial vigorous ferment has occurred and now it will slowly and uneventfully creep down to final gravity.
Just leave it be for at least 2 wks total and then check gravity.
No need to secondary unless you are dry hopping, adding fruit,etc... or bulk aging.

 

[MountAiryBrew]

How do i know what the FG should be?

 

[kh54s10]

You have no problems. Leave the beer alone until at least day 14. 21 would be better. Then take a gravity reading, two days later, take another reading. If the numbers are the same you should be at final gravity. Then you can decide, either bottle the beer, wait longer (I primary for 3 weeks then package.) or use a secondary.

Patience is probably the hardest lesson to learn for the beginner. Also most directions are too simple. 5-10 days primary, one week secondary, 2 weeks bottle. It can work, but the yeast cannot read the directions. They may take longer to do the job. There are many variables to a good fermentation.

There are also many different ways to brew and ferment your beer. Keep reading, learn, experience and find out what works best for you.

 

[boydster]

Is there a target FG listed in the instructions? If not, what was your OG and did you add any steeping grains or just malt extract?

I want to jump on the "it's not ready to bottle in 4 days" bandwagon. Give it a full 2 weeks before you consider bottling. It may or may not drop another few points, but you've got nothing to gain by bottling early and nothing to lose by waiting 2+ weeks before proceeding.

 

[sok454]

As Boyd said... usually in the directions for the recipe it will say what the range of OG/FG should be. If its extract you may have a few more unfermentables that would lead to a higher FG.

As everyone has said though... just let it sit for 2 weeks. My frist few beers I was down there all the time wanting to open it and look in it...and take a sample.... now I wait....and wait.... and wait....

 

[MountAiryBrew]

I will double check the instructions for a final Gravity. I guess i was expecting the air lock to have more activity for a longer period of time. I will continue to wait and check every several days.

Defiantely getting a clear fermentor next time so i can see it better and hopefully keep me from being so impatient.

 

[NewWestBrewer]

Airlock is not a good sign of fermentation. Many people have talked about a loose lid seal and no airlock activity but it still ferments. The krausen at the top of bucket is a better indication. As most others have said....leave it for two weeks in primary before you do anything.

 

[sok454]

I no longer have airlock action... or if I do its very rare so do not use that as a gauge. Granted it is awesome to watch it bubble and to know some cool chemistry is going on in there.