Help! No Fermentation?!

[Brewlaw]

I am completely new to brewing in general, and have only brewed a batch of beer beforehand which turned out reasonably well. I just bough a Finlandia Apple and Pear Cider kit and followed the instructions: Heat can up, pour in fermentation vessel, add sugar, water to the 18 litre mark, pitch yeast and add to the mix. Initial temperature was 22 degrees, and OG was 1.040

It has been 72 hours since I started the batch and has remained at 18-20 degrees. So far all I see is that it is cloudy, stinks like H2S (rhino fart as I researched), and thats about it. It is bubbling but only a little bit, and there isnt even a krausen collar. If I watch the vessel I see bubbles rising every now and then, so I am sure it is working, but I am afraid it is proceeding too slowly. It is an open vessel with a lid on it (the coopers home brewing kit), however I am surprised as to how little activity I see. When I brewed my beer last time it was frothing like mad!

Have I done anything wrong? Or am I just too impatient and should leave it for a few more days?

 

[Jacob_Marley]

I've never done a cider kit (or any kit for that matter) but it will probably be fine. Follow the directions closely. Be patient with the ferment. Your temperature is fine. Take another SG reading to make sure the sugar level is going down at least some amount. While it is conceivable that a person can get a bad pack of yeast ... it is very uncommon and an UNlikely possibility. If the sugar is going down at all, there are some yeast at work ... and yeast multiply like rabbits. Just be patient.

It may take up to a week to ferment out ... just be watchful for the completion of the ferment.

As far as the H2S, it is true that it is not uncommon with cider or perry. This is in part due to a lack of nutrients.
You can somewhat moderate the H2S by keeping the ferment at no higher temp than the directions indicate. And this *will* in fact make for a slower fermentation ... but that's what you want.

With cider or perry, to avoid H2S for many yeasts, personally, I add a bit of yeast nutrient powder at the onset of fermentation ... but if your ferment is already going, it is likely that it is already too far along in the process to go to the store and buy some and then come back home and add it.

In general long as there it at least some fermentation, keep the temp in the middle of the recommended temperature range, it should be fine. If it really seems to be going no where and there is little or no sugar drop upon checking the SG, you can raise the temperature just slightly to the upper end of the recommended range the manufacturer has indicated.

 

[dallas996]

I've never done a kit either, but I second throwing in some nutrient from your LHBS (if you have access). You might even want to see if they have some of the same yeast and throw a bit more in; it really can't hurt at this point.

 

[Jacob_Marley]

Actually you would not want to throw the nutrient in now IF the ferment is further along than about 1/3 of the way through (that is, you have 2/3 of the ferment left to go) as measured by doing the SG with your hydrometer.

Because your final cider is going to be quite low in alcohol to begin with (that is, it could get to that point without a great deal of fermenting) throwing nutrient in after the ferment has been going on for a while increases the chance that the nutrient may end up not getting totally used and then you'll have it floating around in your cider ... a whole different ball of wax. The further along you are, the trickier it is to add more nutrient.

Only if the ferment stalls, or for that matter actually does not start, would I recommend adding nutrient this late after adding the yeast.
Your hydrometer will tell.

As far as avoiding hydrogen sulfide ... it is more complicated than just tossing in some nutrient. For what it's worth, it is also possible to get rid of H2S once it is in your cider. Many posts regarding both of those issues can be found on HBT (hint: use google advanced search to search the HBT forum).

 

[dallas996]

Good info Marley! Never knew that about the nutrient; I learn something every day!