First brew - Fermentation concerns..?

[HopDude]

Started my first beer this past Saturday. An AAA from Brewers Best. Followed kit instructions to a T (prob my 1st mistake).

Air lock on primary (7g bucket) started bubbling within 12hrs and was really going strong at 24-36hrs. At 3 days... had slowed to a bubble every 60-90 seconds and now, 4/5 days later, seems to be no action. Cause for concern?

OG was 1.051 (kit called for 1.050-1.054) and I have kept the primary at a pretty constant 65-68 degrees in my very cold basement via water tub and aquarium heater.

Plan is to transfer to carboy this weekend

Read a few pointers here before starting out (hence the tub and heater) and hope that it's nothing to be concerned about.... Just an over-anxious noob...?

 

[Double_D]

There's cause for celebration! Primary fermentation is done now you only have to wait a couple more weeks and you'll be drinking your first batch of homebrew. Primary fermentation can take anywhere from 72 hours(and make a REALLY big mess) to ten days depending on the fermentation temp, yeast strain, beginning specific gravity.. Just relax and have a beer.(it's to early to suggest you have a homebrew)

 

[BendBrewer]

Fermentation is just winding down but the yeast aren't done just because it does. The yeast produce by-products during fermentation that they go clean up after the fermentable sugars have been exhausted. If you rack to a carboy this weekend, you will be removing a great deal of yeast and slow that clean up process. You would be better to wait another week before transferring if you can manage to. The beer will be fine, the yeast will complete their job and your beer will start to clear. This clearing can be finished in the carboy while you start another batch in your bucket.

 

[krazydave]

That's totally normal... most of the heavy fermentation which creates lots of bubbles happens in the first 48-72 hours, after that the krausen (or foamy head of yeast) starts to settle back into the beer.

Usually after the first week is up, theres not much floating on top anymore and the only bubbles you see are from temperature changes

 

[HopDude]

Thanks for the quick replies. This forum is great. Will wait another week on the transfer and work on emtying bottles...

 

[asterix404]

Aye! Congratulations! I have found that keeping wort in the primary for about 2 weeks or so is the right time for about 90% of ale yeasts that I have used and as long as there is nothing on top of the beer (a white sort of bread dough like substance called krausen) it is ready to either rack or bottle. I don't generally go by time since I have racked too soon and had an overflowing secondary but it sounds like you are almost ready to start drinking your first batch! Congrats again!