helped a buddy over the weekend...

[tbulluck]

I was hanging out with a co-worker over the weekend and we decided to brew his second batch. It was a brewer's best milk stout....started on Sat. and he said this am (Monday) it was not bubbling anymore. Thoughts?

We followed the instructions to the T.

 

[millsware]

It might be done with primary fermentation. Sometimes it only takes a day or two.

 

[Golddiggie]

Just let it ride for 2-4 weeks... Take a hydrometer reading at 2 weeks from when it went active and see where it's at. Also check for leaks in the fermenter, to make sure the CO2 is going out the airlock... Otherwise, just because not a lot of CO2 is escaping doesn't mean it's done/ready... Before you think about bottling, TASTE IT... How long it sits on the yeast will really be determined by how it tastes. When it tastes GOOD/great, then prime and bottle it... Not before. If there are any 'off' flavors, let it sit on the yeast longer.

I would also leave it on the yeast for the duration... Do NOT rack to another fermenter after X days... I would ignore all instructions pertaining to fermentation time, and racking to another fermenter. Priming instructions should also be examined. Use one of the online calculation sites for carbonation (to add the correct amount of sugar to prime with)... Measure sugar for priming in WEIGHT, not volume (cups)...

Patience with a brew is rewarded by a better brew...

 

[unionrdr]

It should take a big beer longer to finish primary. It may not be completely done,even though you may see few or no bubbles in the airlock. The airlock is really just a one way valve to keep air out,& release excess CO2 pressure. give it some time,& take a hydrometer sample in a week.

 

[iron_city_ap]

Primary fermentation might be done, but that doesn't mean the yeast is nearly done doing its job. Let it sit for a good 3 weeks and 4 days then check the gravity. 3 days after that (a month from the brewing date) check the gravity again. If the number is the same on the last 2 checks, the beer is done fermentiing. Without knowing the recipe, I'm guessing you should be looking for something in the 1.020 range. Do you know the Starting Gravity you guys ended up with?

 

[beergolf]

Don't worry about it showing visible signs of bubbling.

Since you know that it started, then just let it sit for a couple of weeks and then check the gravity. That recipe shows it should finish at 1.020-1.024.

My first brew was a BB kit. I did disregard the instruction after yeast pitching and let it sit for 3 weeks before bottling and it turned out very good.

 

[mrwilliams2]

Hey everyone. I'm the guy the OP is referring to. I think from what I'm reading, all is good and I should just let the brew do it's thing for a few weeks and start taking hydrometer readings. My OG was 1.060 (I think - I'll have to check when I get home). It just threw me for a loop, because the first batch I made (lager) went crazy for about 3 days before it settled down. Even after that, it bubbled pretty consistently for another couple days. I'm using a Coopers ferminter, so I'm confident I have a tight seal. It's like the brew just died after one day...

I did notice the temperature getting a little high this morning, so I moved it to a cooler room. Maybe that will help as well?

 

[unionrdr]

Keeping a yeast closer to it's min ferment temp is always a good thing for cleaner beer. Ironcity,why exactly 3 weeks & 4 days? Sounds kinda funny... And waiting 6-7 weeks to check FG twice is way too long. A ton of conditioning would only be needed for some serious off flavors,or a big beer. Generally,if you get the same FG 2 days in a row,you're good to go. But always taste the hydrometer sample to see where you're at. The hydrometer is your bestest buddy...eine prosit!

 

[Rivenin]

while the bubbling looks pretty and is fun to watch.. it doesn't mean a thing about fermentation, just means that CO2 is escaping...
read reverend revvy talk about airlocks and fermentation
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/slow-fermentation-216438/#post2533945

 

[mrwilliams2]

read reverend revvy talk about airlocks and fermentation
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/slow-fermentation-216438/#post2533945

This is awesome! It should be stickied at the top of the newbie forum.

 

[TheSeether]

why exactly 3 weeks & 4 days?

Assuming a 4 week (1 month/28 days) planned fermentation time this allows a gravity check at day 25 and another at day 28 (3 days apart). Assuming the reading has not changed bottling may also begin on day 28.

 

[Golddiggie]

Depending on the OG, I would start checking either at 2 or 3 weeks from start of fermentation (or when it went visible) not from when you pitched the yeast. Although, I typically have active signs within 12 hours of pitching the yeast...

How I typically plan my brews:
OG under 1.050, check after 2 weeks (how much after is up to you.
OG from 1.050 to 1.065, check after 3 weeks.
OG from 1.065-1.085, check after 4 weeks.
OG above 1.090, might take one reading at 4-5 weeks... All depends on the brew and such...

With all the readings you take, taste the sample once you've taken the hydrometer reading. If you detect any off flavors, then leave it on the yeast cake. I've bulk aged my bigger brews, so far, for about a month, or more... So far, the final elements have been oak chips, with one getting a bourbon soaked vanilla bean before that. I racked off the bean to halt it's addition to the brew. It's bottle conditioning now, having sampled one over this past weekend. I'm planning on letting them bottle condition/age for at least a month before I try another one. I might go two months.

 

[mrwilliams2]

I did confirm that my OG was 1.060. I checked on my brew today... no foam on top. No action whatsoever. Has it stalled?

 

[ongreystreet]

First let me say BB kits are awesome, especially for us beginners. There are two things I don't like about their kits. First, they rush you thru fermentation and bottling. Wait until you hit their suggested FG for at least 2, better 3, days in a row, and try to keep it in primary for at least 2-4 weeks, not their typical 7-10 days. Second, they suggest sprinkling yeast into wort, I know it works but I would recommend rehydrating.

As far as your fermentation, checking this by looking for activity visually and not with a hydrometer is like looking out the window to see what the temperature is outside. It will give you some indication, but you need your gauge to be sure.

I think there is a thread about brewer's best oatmeal stout stalling, you might want to find that, it's had a lot of recent activity.

 

[ongreystreet]

Here's the link:

has anyone tried the brewer's best oatmeal stout kit