Has Fermentation Begun? (Pic)

[Nexus555]

So yesterday I finally brewed my first batch in 15 years! I got a West Coast Pale Ale extract kit from my local homebrew shop.

This morning, approximately 12 hours after pitching the yeast, I saw no obvious signs of fermentation. No foamy head and no bubbles in the air lock. I forgot to oxygenate my wort, so I took off the airlock and swirled/swished the wort for about 2 minutes.

It has been about 24 hours and I still see no signs of the air lock bubbling, but there are now little bubbles all over the surface. I have attached a pic. Does this look like fermentation? I imagined it would be more vigorous. These bubbles appeared approximately 7 hours ago.

Sadly I dropped my hydrometer and could not take an OG. Btw, the beer is exactly at 67 degrees.

 

[Kickass]

It’s starting. It should be well underway soon.

What yeast?
What volume of wort?
What was the estimated OG from the LHBS?

 

[Nexus555]

It’s starting. It should be well underway soon.

What yeast?
What volume of wort?
What was the estimated OG from the LHBS?

Yeast: US-05 Safale Dry (1 packet)
Volume: 5 gallons total
Estimated OG: 1.055

I pitched yeast right at 67 degrees approximately 1 hour after the boil once I cooled the wort. I did not hydrate.

 

[Kickass]

It’ll be ripping in no time.

 

[Nexus555]

It’ll be ripping in no time.

Thanks for the reassurance. I was very nervous seeing it dormant this morning as all the LBS are closed on Sundays. Also, it feels weird to think about it sitting for so long with no activity. I am always nervous about spoilage, lol. Anyways, I will keep everyone updated. I am also about to be on the hunt for a recipe. I will likely buy another 6.5 carboy soon so I can have two going at once. Thanks again.

 

[bracconiere]

It’ll be ripping in no time.

i think you're right, hopefully he's got enough head space it doesn't blow his bung out....67f is pretty mellow though...

I will likely buy another 6.5 carboy soon so I can have two going at once

obviously you're a player! (just remember 10 gallon batches aren't any more time consuming to make!)

 

[RM-MN]

Thanks for the reassurance. I was very nervous seeing it dormant this morning as all the LBS are closed on Sundays. Also, it feels weird to think about it sitting for so long with no activity. I am always nervous about spoilage, lol. Anyways, I will keep everyone updated. I am also about to be on the hunt for a recipe. I will likely buy another 6.5 carboy soon so I can have two going at once. Thanks again.

DON'T!!m Don't buy another carboy! Carboy's are heavy, fragile, slippery, and can send you to the emergency room in a split second. Plastic buckets have been in use for brewing by a lot of people for many years and do the same job as a carboy but they have so many advantages.

With a bucket the opening is large so you can simply pour the wort in. When the fermentation is over and you have emptied the bucket, that same large opening will give you access to clean. Bucket come with a handle for easy carrying and if dropped they bounce instead of breaking into sharp pieces. If you have several buckets (they are cheap enough to have more than 2) and aren't using them for a time you can stack them inside one another.

The downside of the bucket is you cannot see the fermentation through the side but you have a carboy already to see that and once seen they all seem to be about the same.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

US-05

US-05 can be slow to show signs of fermentation.

 

[jerrylotto]

You might want to consider pitching another packet. For a 5 gallon batch at 1.055, one packet of dry yeast is borderline under pitching.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

These were mentioned in recent topics.

---

• or 50 (to 80) grams per 26.42 gallons
• or 1.9 (to 3.0) grams per gallon

so roughly one pack for a 5 gal wort.

---

From Fermentis Tips & Tricks:

---

Brewers are also posting tilt graphs that show SG during fermentation - and they suggest similar results.

 

[jerrylotto]

These were mentioned in recent topics.

---

• or 50 (to 80) grams per 26.42 gallons
• or 1.9 (to 3.0) grams per gallon

so roughly one pack for a 5 gal wort.

---

From Fermentis Tips & Tricks:
View attachment 771015

---

Brewers are also posting tilt graphs that show SG during fermentation - and they suggest similar results.

Depends on how viable the pack it is. It's rare that 100% of the 11.5 g in a packet is viable yeast, depending on age and storage characteristics. If you use the high end of your estimate you're still at a pack and a half for a 5 gallon batch. IMHO over pitching is always preferable to under pitching.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

IMHO over pitching is always preferable to under pitching.

Noted.

---

More generally, the idea of higher pitch rates has been a frequent topic recently.

In one of those topics, there is a link to a previous discussion about people getting good results with certain dry strains when 'under-pitching'.

---

FWIW, I find that guidance on pitch rates from yeast labs / brands is a solid starting point. Also, the ancedotal measurements from people who use Tilts also seem to be confirming some of what the yeast labs / brands are recommending.

---

eta: direct link to the topic on 'under-pitching' (click here)

 

[tracer bullet]

For fermenting I'm a big fan of my "big mouth bubblers".

For fermentation I'm guessing @Nexus555 will be back today saying it was going strong. Picture definitely looked like it was just starting.

 

[Nexus555]

DON'T!!m Don't buy another carboy! Carboy's are heavy, fragile, slippery, and can send you to the emergency room in a split second. Plastic buckets have been in use for brewing by a lot of people for many years and do the same job as a carboy but they have so many advantages.

With a bucket the opening is large so you can simply pour the wort in. When the fermentation is over and you have emptied the bucket, that same large opening will give you access to clean. Bucket come with a handle for easy carrying and if dropped they bounce instead of breaking into sharp pieces. If you have several buckets (they are cheap enough to have more than 2) and aren't using them for a time you can stack them inside one another.

The downside of the bucket is you cannot see the fermentation through the side but you have a carboy already to see that and once seen they all seem to be about the same.

Yeah, I definitely won't get a traditional carboy for sure. I am still exploring options.

 

[Nexus555]

Airlock activity is now ongoing! Head size has increased.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

US-05 can be slow (relative to other strains) to show signs of fermentation.

FWIW, just before Fermentis launched their E2U program, I heard a tip (regarding active dry yeast) from a pro brewer:

Treat each strain differently

US-05 can be slow starting. Some Lallemand strains require a higher pitch rate. ...

Guidance from yeast labs / brands is a solid starting point.

---

With regard to viability: There are a number of Fermentis videos from 2020 / 2021 that discuss viability and the 'best by' date (IIRC, 'best by' date accounts for viability when offering guidance on initial pitch rates).

It's likely the Lallemand has similar videos.

 

[jerrylotto]

Yeah, I definitely won't get a traditional carboy for sure. I am still exploring options.

I absolutely love my FastFerment conical and it was very inexpensive for the 7 gallon version. The only downside to it in my opinion is that you have to be able to lift it when it's full. I also have an SS Brew bucket stainless conical, but I really don't like not being able to see what's going on inside. The Fermzilla is very similar to the Fastferment and both are short money in comparison to other options.

 

[Kickass]

You might want to consider pitching another packet. For a 5 gallon batch at 1.055, one packet of dry yeast is borderline under pitching.

Anecdotally, this has never been my experience. In 15 years of brewing I’ve never pitched more than 1 pack of us-05 in a five gallon batch unless the OG is over 1.070. This is just one person’s experience, YMMV.

 

[bwible]

DON'T!!m Don't buy another carboy! Carboy's are heavy, fragile, slippery, and can send you to the emergency room in a split second. Plastic buckets have been in use for brewing by a lot of people for many years and do the same job as a carboy but they have so many advantages.

With a bucket the opening is large so you can simply pour the wort in. When the fermentation is over and you have emptied the bucket, that same large opening will give you access to clean. Bucket come with a handle for easy carrying and if dropped they bounce instead of breaking into sharp pieces. If you have several buckets (they are cheap enough to have more than 2) and aren't using them for a time you can stack them inside one another.

The downside of the bucket is you cannot see the fermentation through the side but you have a carboy already to see that and once seen they all seem to be about the same.

Or I like the plastic carboys like Fermonster. I have a couple of those and they are great. You can even get them with a faucet to do oxygen reduced transfers if you’re so inclined.

 

[bwible]

(just remember 10 gallon batches aren't any more time consuming to make!)

When was the last time you went to the beer distributor and bought 4 cases of the same beer? There’s something to be said for variety too.

 

[Dancy]

Yeah, I definitely won't get a traditional carboy for sure. I am still exploring options.

I brew 5-6 gallon batches and really like my Speidel fermenters. I think they’re somewhat over priced (more so with recent increases) but I love the handles and the overall quality is terrific, IMO. Two on opposing sides and very strong. I find them easy to clean as well.

 

[Sergei]

Yeast: US-05 Safale Dry (1 packet)

Dry yeasts usually do not need aeration. The producer of US-05, Fermentis, says: "We don’t recommend aerating the wort in normal conditions. The dry yeast has been produced and dried with a specific know-how of the Lesaffre Group, in order to maximize the Ergosterols content of the cells." (Q&A). By opening air lock and dancing with the fermenter you increased a chance to catch wild yeasts and other bacteria. Anyway, hope your beer will be good

 

[Sergei]

You might want to consider pitching another packet. For a 5 gallon batch at 1.055, one packet of dry yeast is borderline under pitching.

It is better to reinvest into hydrometer
If gravity has already dropped, there is no sense to add more yeasts.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

There’s something to be said for variety too.

IIRC, all three major US magazines (or their web sites) are out with articles over the past month or two on how to split and blend worts.

I'm pretty sure that the "leading edge" of forum discussion was talking about this late last year.

So give @bracconiere a couple of months to catch up (order smaller fermenters?, cold steep some Victory malt? ).

 

[bracconiere]

So give @bracconiere a couple of months to catch up (order smaller fermenters?, cold steep some Victory malt? ).

LOL didn't realize this topic moved to fermenter recomendations....ain't cheap, but i'm still liking my milk pails....mine are 16 gallon, and were $150 a piece...but here's a nice fermenter really easy to clean, way easier then plastic...and the o-ring in the lid is silicone, so should last...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185405988178?hash=item2b2b0edd52:g:YggAAOSwP~diDGvr

 

[Yesfan]

Yeah, I definitely won't get a traditional carboy for sure. I am still exploring options.

Get these. IMO, best fermenter for the money.

Fermonster 6 Gallon Carboy

There's also a thread on modifying these. I have a friend of mine that bought all of mine. I wished I'd at least kept a couple. He's not being brewing much, so hoping I can buy a couple of them back.

 

[Zilyzal]

Get these. IMO, best fermenter for the money.

Fermonster 6 Gallon Carboy

There's also a thread on modifying these. I have a friend of mine that bought all of mine. I wished I'd at least kept a couple. He's not being brewing much, so hoping I can buy a couple of them back.

Jesus christ 35$?
I bought something similar last week and they’re like 1.5$ in my country

 

[Yesfan]

Jesus christ 35$?
I bought something similar last week and they’re like 1.5$ in my country

Inflation is a bitch.


I like how yours has a built in handle like a regular bucket vs having to use a separate carrier. And I'm assuming a $1.50 is a typo. Even at $15, that's quite the deal!

 

[Sergei]

Inflation is a bitch.


I like how yours has a built in handle like a regular bucket vs having to use a separate carrier. And I'm assuming a $1.50 is a typo. Even at $15, that's quite the deal!

He's from Iran, it is not a typo.

 

[Yesfan]

He's from Iran, it is not a typo.

What does Iran have to do with typos?