I had no activity in airlock for 3 days.

[gladdybrewer87]

I am new to brewing. I have done a few batches of different IPAs and Pale ales. I usually never had any issues with activity in the airlock. I recently did a batch of Mckenzie Pale Ale with cascade as a bittering hop. I am using fermenting buckets in a chest freezer with an inkbird to maintain proper temperature at 68° and for cold crashing. I did not have airlock activity for 3 days. I popped the top quick and threw just a a little bit more dry yeast (i felt i under pitched) then swirled the bucket lightly. The activity picked up fairly quickly after and very vigorously. Is my batch going to be ruined for this?

 

[lumpher]

No. If fermentation picked right back up that sounds like it was stalled and you gave it the kick it needed.

 

[AlexKay]

If you used dry yeast (what kind?) you probably didn’t even have a stall. My armchair theory is that fermentation was going just fine but the CO2 was leaking from the bucket. When you opened and closed the lid, you sealed it better.

In my experience, worrying about stalls is common, but actual stalls are really quite rare.

 

[gladdybrewer87]

US-05 Ale yeast. I did check the bucket. I will say there was a few massive bubbles in the center of the krausen when i pitched the small amount of yeast again which was only like 1/4 tsp. So it may of been fine. As long as its not hurt now lol.

 

[mac_1103]

I will say there was a few massive bubbles in the center of the krausen when i pitched the small amount of yeast again

If there was krausen then it was fermenting and the lack of bubbling just means that your bucket wasn't sealed. It didn't need the extra yeast but you probably got a better seal after pitching it. Plus swirling the bucket might have released a bunch of CO2 quickly. You did let air in when you opened the fermenter, but the activity that followed probably purged it before it could do much (if any) damage.

 

[gladdybrewer87]

If there was krausen then it was fermenting and the lack of bubbling just means that your bucket wasn't sealed. It didn't need the extra yeast but you probably got a better seal after pitching it. Plus swirling the bucket might have released a bunch of CO2 quickly. You did let air in when you opened the fermenter, but the activity that followed probably purged it before it could do much (if any) damage.

It actually stopped activity by this morning again and i haven't touched the bucket lid since then. What does this mean?

 

[gladdybrewer87]

It actually stopped activity by this morning again and i haven't touched the bucket lid since then. What does this mean?

Is there some sort of gasket i can get for the bucket lid of the "ale pail" brand 6.5 gallon bucket?

 

[David Kozelenko]

It actually stopped activity by this morning again and i haven't touched the bucket lid since then. What does this mean?

One thing you didn't mention is how long has this batch been fermenting? It could be that you are done fermenting and the small activity you saw was due to the small new yeast addition and the affect of the swirling releasing CO2. Just a thought, you could test the SG and see if it falls in your expected finish range. As stated before, stalls are not common so hopefully you are ready to bottle or keg. Get going!

 

[gladdybrewer87]

One thing you didn't mention is how long has this batch been fermenting? It could be that you are done fermenting and the small activity you saw was due to the small new yeast addition and the affect of the swirling releasing CO2. Just a thought, you could test the SG and see if it falls in your expected finish range. As stated before, stalls are not common so hopefully you are ready to bottle or keg. Get going!

I brewed and pitched the yeast Saturday. So it would have been day 3. When i normally see high activity. Which is why i was concerned. Plus it was a brand new bucket that i just got that same day. Maybe thats why? The other buckets i have that were used have gaskets. This one does not.

 

[mac_1103]

What does this mean?

It might mean that it's done. I would leave it alone for at least another week before I cold crashed and packaged (but I know that a lot of people have different views on that). Does your Ale Pail have a spigot (so you can check the gravity without opening the lid).

Is there some sort of gasket i can get for the bucket lid of the "ale pail" brand 6.5 gallon bucket?

I wouldn't try to add a gasket to a bucket lid that didn't come with one. It's more likely to make it harder to seal than easier. I've used buckets with gaskets and buckets without gaskets (and one of them is an Ale Pail). Both kinds can be sealed well. One of these can help:

 

[David Kozelenko]

I brewed and pitched the yeast Saturday. So it would have been day 3. When i normally see high activity. Which is why i was concerned. Plus it was a brand new bucket that i just got that same day. Maybe thats why? The other buckets i have that were used have gaskets. This one does not.

3 days does seem a bit fast but google says 2-5 days for an ale fermentation, so you may be just fine. Seeing how you have krausen, though you do have fermentation so I would wait a until the weekend and then consider bottling/kegging. Check your SG at that point to confirm that you have a complete fermentation. In the end keep moving forward and get it in a glass and see how it is. I'm hoping you have a nice drinkable beer and it was just a poor bucket/lid seal or fast fermentation that got you concerned and will have no affect on your beer. Brew on!

 

[gladdybrewer87]

3 days does seem a bit fast but google says 2-5 days for an ale fermentation, so you may be just fine. Seeing how you have krausen, though you do have fermentation so I would wait a until the weekend and then consider bottling/kegging. Check your SG at that point to confirm that you have a complete fermentation. In the end keep moving forward and get it in a glass and see how it is. I'm hoping you have a nice drinkable beer and it was just a poor bucket/lid seal or fast fermentation that got you concerned and will have no affect on your beer. Brew on!

Thank you! All the advice is greatly appreciated.