TopHatCat
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2013
- Messages
- 9
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- 1
Howdy guys,
So first time posting here (apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum, couldn't find a troubleshooting section).
Today I started on my first ever Brew, a 10L starter kit.. And, well.. It feels like everything has gone wrong. But I can't quite decide what!
I started earlier this morning, using 4L of store bought apple juice and a packet of wine yeast (as what came with the starter kit & suggested to me). But, after about 5hours I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for or if this is common.
My little yeasties DO seem to be going, as there is a tiny amount of foam on the surface of my juice.. Buuut it doesn't seem to be bubbling through my bubbler AT ALL, just slightly displacing the water.
I know for certain that the bucket is air-tight as gently pressing on the lid forces the water through the bubbler and nowhere else. So there's pressure inside. But it just feels like my yeast isn't up to the task.
This could be for afew reasons.. I was in abit of a hurry this morning so forgive me, but;
* The juice may have been abit too warm, I had boiled some cinnamon in 1L of apple juice and left it to cool for an hour, it was just above body temperature (as it felt lukewarm to the touch), but was still steaming alittle. So, as I was in a rush I added it to the bucket and diluted it with the remaining 3L's of juice (to which it didn't feel warm at all).
* I may have added too much sugar to the mix, I wanted to add alittle brown sugar just for flavor.. (totally disregarding the instructions saying the juice has enough x~x), so added half a teacup, it didn't seem like much when I consider it's going to be diluted in 10L's eventually, but at this early stage It may have been a mistake.
* I may mixed the yeast in alittle too... vigorously, I tried folding it in to gently wetten it, but I feel I may have over-did it slightly, again I'm just a bag of nerves so I may be over-exaggerating it but still a possibility.
* It may be alittle too cold in my garage. Though I do have it wrapped up in a towel to keep it warm for these first 8hours or so, as per the instructions I got, but nothing under it.. It certainly doesn't feel cold however.
* Or the yeast could simply not have started fermenting on a large scale yet, as, from reading here it can see it could take anything from 1hr to 3days? How many bubbles should be popping through your bubbler at this stage? As from what I read it sounds quite common, but I have yet to witness any at all (watched for about 1minute or so).
^ So yeah, over-all it could be for any kind of reason, but that's why I'm here to ask for help and advice as, with no experience I have no idea whats going on or even HOW it should be reacting at this stage!
Thank you all for reading this and thanks in advance for any and all advice.
So first time posting here (apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum, couldn't find a troubleshooting section).
Today I started on my first ever Brew, a 10L starter kit.. And, well.. It feels like everything has gone wrong. But I can't quite decide what!
I started earlier this morning, using 4L of store bought apple juice and a packet of wine yeast (as what came with the starter kit & suggested to me). But, after about 5hours I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for or if this is common.
My little yeasties DO seem to be going, as there is a tiny amount of foam on the surface of my juice.. Buuut it doesn't seem to be bubbling through my bubbler AT ALL, just slightly displacing the water.
I know for certain that the bucket is air-tight as gently pressing on the lid forces the water through the bubbler and nowhere else. So there's pressure inside. But it just feels like my yeast isn't up to the task.
This could be for afew reasons.. I was in abit of a hurry this morning so forgive me, but;
* The juice may have been abit too warm, I had boiled some cinnamon in 1L of apple juice and left it to cool for an hour, it was just above body temperature (as it felt lukewarm to the touch), but was still steaming alittle. So, as I was in a rush I added it to the bucket and diluted it with the remaining 3L's of juice (to which it didn't feel warm at all).
* I may have added too much sugar to the mix, I wanted to add alittle brown sugar just for flavor.. (totally disregarding the instructions saying the juice has enough x~x), so added half a teacup, it didn't seem like much when I consider it's going to be diluted in 10L's eventually, but at this early stage It may have been a mistake.
* I may mixed the yeast in alittle too... vigorously, I tried folding it in to gently wetten it, but I feel I may have over-did it slightly, again I'm just a bag of nerves so I may be over-exaggerating it but still a possibility.
* It may be alittle too cold in my garage. Though I do have it wrapped up in a towel to keep it warm for these first 8hours or so, as per the instructions I got, but nothing under it.. It certainly doesn't feel cold however.
* Or the yeast could simply not have started fermenting on a large scale yet, as, from reading here it can see it could take anything from 1hr to 3days? How many bubbles should be popping through your bubbler at this stage? As from what I read it sounds quite common, but I have yet to witness any at all (watched for about 1minute or so).
^ So yeah, over-all it could be for any kind of reason, but that's why I'm here to ask for help and advice as, with no experience I have no idea whats going on or even HOW it should be reacting at this stage!
Thank you all for reading this and thanks in advance for any and all advice.
So what should I be looking out for? How will I know if it's gotten back on track or, lord forbid, I have to scrap it and start anew?
