First Brew Question

[Cessna150]

My beer has been fermenting for 13 days. I was going to bottle it tonight but I am seeing yeast still floating and some unidentified "things" rising from the bottom and other things descending from the top. Does this activity mean its. It ready (done fermenting) yet? Please advise..

 

[Clann]

The only way you will know if it is done is to take a couple of gravity readings over a couple of days. when the readings are the same you are good to go..

 

[Frodo]

It's never a bad idea IMHO to wait until all the activity has ceased (no more stuff floating up or down), and the beer is clear. Before bottling you should definitely take a hydrometer reading once, then again after a couple/few days, to make sure it's done fermenting.

 

[Krazykripple]

the only way you can tell if it's ready is if you have stable hydrometer readings for 3 days or so

 

[Cessna150]

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply! Where can I get a hydrometer for beer?

 

[Frodo]

Anyplace that sells homebrew equip. It's a necessary thing to have - you'll use it alot.

 

[smarek82]

When yeast decide that they have done their job and want to take a break, they flocculate. This is most likely what you are seeing is just yeast flocculating atop your wonderful beer. But as the other HBTers said, check your gravity to see where you're at and you'll know for sure if your beer is done.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Give it another 7 days. The longer you give it the more it will clear up plus the yeast will clean up giving you better beer. Also check the bottom of the fermentor... You should see a nice thick yeast cake.