First fermentation

[woods2014]

It has been 7 days I am still getting bubbles out of airlock it is slow but still does. I know it says no bubbles for 48!hours is this true what is the best way to know if it's ready? It says 4-6 days in fermentation.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Airlock activity doesn't men that there is fermentation activity going on. Most fermentation is done by day 6, but the yeast need to clean up after themselves to make sure that there are no off flavors or aromas. I never touch my beers until day 10, usually just q quick sample pull and taste, then again on day 12-14 (depending on how lazy I am).

What was your Starting Gravity? Yeast strain? Fermentation temperature? All of these will have an impact on when your beer is finished.

 

[kh54s10]

If you don't have a hydrometer get one. Then discard the directions (as far as timing goes...) and have patience. I let all my beers ferment for a minimum of 2 weeks and usually go 3 weeks or longer. I rarely use a secondary.

After at least 10 days preferably 2-3 weeks take a hydrometer reading, wait at least 24 hours and take another one. If the numbers are the same you can bottle it.

Then patience comes in again. Let the bottles condition at room temperature (about 70 degrees) for 3 weeks then chill one for a couple of days and try it. If carbonated to your tastes chill more and begin consuming. If not carbonated wait longer.

You may get carbonation earlier but in my experience the taste is best at 3 weeks or longer. Possibly much longer for strong or heavy beers.

 

[woods2014]

Yeah it is a brew kit pumpkin spice porter had a reading of 1.058 right before I started fermentation. Now it says 1.020. I will give it till Saturday and that will be 12 days and the take a reading and see what it says then take another reading 24 hours from then. Is that what needs to be done with this am I right?

 

[woods2014]

What do u guys like better a carboy or a bucket for fermentation for primary's? Can u use a carboy as primary?

 

[woods2014]

I am kinda of new just seeing what people are doing with the fermentation

 

[kh54s10]

What do u guys like better a carboy or a bucket for fermentation for primary's? Can u use a carboy as primary?

I use 6 gallon Better Bottles as my first choice then buckets as my second choice. I like to be able to see the fermentation. I also feel the Better Bottles are easy to clean, even easier than buckets.

I always start either with a blow off tube, often needed with the better bottles and sometime with the buckets (bigger headspace.).

One I won't use is a glass carboy. To me it is not worth the risk of injury for the few positives of the glass carboy.

 

[NadoHawk]

What do u guys like better a carboy or a bucket for fermentation for primary's? Can u use a carboy as primary?

My first two full-scale batches (Mr Beer before that with three batches) were with a better bottle. I got a bucket later on to use for the Coopers kits (easier to mix the kit in after boil), but ended up using it for my last batch because I forgot to clean my better bottle from the year before (should I toss it?) and was afraid of infection. Beer turned out better than the previous version (not for taste as I did not like the yeast as much, but it terms of actual quality).

I have a secondary Big Mouth 5 gallon glass carboy to use for secondary when I switch to pale ales.

 

[unionrdr]

When the rapid bubbling slows or stops, only initial fermentation is done. It'll then slowly, uneventfully creep down to a stable FG. If it settles down @ 10 days, I'll test it, wait 3 days & test it again. If the numbers match, it's done. If not, it could take another week or a bit more to stabilize. I also give it another 3-7 days after FG is reached to clean up any by-products of fermentation & settle out clear or slightly misty.
I also prefer buckets, as they have a bigger opening that makes cleaning & dry hopping easier.