help please

[sorefingers23]

i made my second batch of beer on saturday, i went to my lhbs, and after talking with the owner for a while, decided to make a second batch, but this time i used a coopers kit, but also added some malt grains, some hops, and some malt extract, everything went fine, until now, it seems like the fermentation has stopped there are no more bubbles in the air lock, there is only about half an inche of foam on top, and it seems all the sediment has dropped to the bottom. is the batch ruined??

also i took out the air lock just to get a better look at whats going on, and the brew smells terrible..

 

[KingKegII]

All of the above are normal. Just wait a few weeks then take a hydrometer reading. Your beer can be fermenting and you won't necessarily see visible signs of fermentation in the airlock. RDWHAHB.

Cheers

 

[ShadowsDeed]

most of the time this is normal.

how long did you see fermentation activity?

 

[sorefingers23]

the airlock was bubbling for about 24 hours.. is it possible to ferment that fast, cuz my first batch had about 2 inch of foam, for almost a week, thats why i was wondering about this one

 

[carnevoodoo]

Is it in a bucket? There's a good chance you just don't have a good seal on the lid. Leave it alone for a couple of weeks. The foam on top means it is still fermenting.

 

[sorefingers23]

i just checked it again, and its been about 48 hours since i made the brew, and there is no foam left on top, everything has fallen to the bottom.. there is about half incg scum ring around the bucket...

 

[Yooper]

i just checked it again, and its been about 48 hours since i made the brew, and there is no foam left on top, everything has fallen to the bottom.. there is about half incg scum ring around the bucket...

Yeast ferment like crazy in warmer temperatures, and if it's warm (or you pitched the yeast while the wort was warm), it could have fermented out in 24 hours or so. Keep the temp at 20 C or less, and check it with a hydrometer if you're really worried.

 

[sorefingers23]

i think i may of added the yeast while the wort was too hot, it was about 27 C, right not the brew is at about 21 C.

if the fermentaion happend to fast would that affect the beer??

 

[Yooper]

i think i may of added the yeast while the wort was too hot, it was about 27 C, right not the brew is at about 21 C.

if the fermentaion happend to fast would that affect the beer??

No. But the warm temperatures make the beer taste a bit "fruity" and sometimes actually they start to taste "hot" from fusel alcohols.

I have a stick-on thermometer on my fermenter, and try my best to keep ales at 17-19C if I can. What happens is- you add the yeast when the wort is 27. That makes the yeast go crazy, as they LOVE those temperatures. They start reproducing and fermenting like mad. Which makes it even hotter, since fermentation produces heat. Since it's hotter, the yeast go crazier, and ferment even faster. Which makes it hotter.

It's not the speed of the fermentation that can cause some strange flavors- it's the hot temperature.

Next time, don't add the yeast until you are at 22 C or less. That will help. Try to keep the fermentation under 20 if you can. You can use a water bath, or a "swamp cooler" to help with that in the summer.

For now, just let the beer sit. The yeast will sort of "clean up" some of the off-flavors they may have created during such a hot ferment. Like I said, 20C is a good place for it to be if possible. I'd leave it sit for at least another 10 days or so.

 

[coy]

My first brew acted the same way. Bubbled like crazy for about 24 hours then just stopped. I didn't pop the top of the bucket though. just did a hydro reading.. then 2-3 days later did another hydro and it was moving so your probably good as the others have said.
My second batch did kind of the same. I brewed on Wed didn't see any activity till Thursday. Come sunday it had quite bubbling, but I'm sure it's fine.

Just let whatever happens happen.
And as they like to say around here. RELAX

 

[boo boo]

Wait 3 weeks, bottle it up and send me a dozen to critique for you.
Just kidding.

Like Yoop said, wait it out, and if you haven't already, try this online book.
http://www.howtobrew.com/

 

[sorefingers23]

ok so i just checked with the hydrometer, and its now at 1.012, saturday it was at 1.042, so i guess its working

 

[coy]

looks like it's working well.