If fermentation is done, what are the bubbles?

[Beer is good]

Hello,

I have an ale that has been fermenting for two weeks. The gravity readings are not moving, but there are still tiny little bubbles constantly going up, but not very many. If nothing is fermenting, why is CO2 being produced? Is my yeast just rotting on the bottom?

 

[j1n]

its just co2 gassing off. its not being made its being released from solution.

 

[Beer is good]

its just co2 gassing off. its not being made its being released from solution.

It seems like at some point it would run out of gas... but it has been doing this for a week now. Will it gas off forever?

 

[azmark]

It seems like at some point it would run out of gas... but it has been doing this for a week now. Will it gas off forever?

Shake the fermenter like crazy for about 5 minutes. After about an hour you shouldn't see any more bubbles.

Note this is a very bad practice if you're making beer. But it's great at getting rid of those pesky bubbles.

 

[j1n]

It seems like at some point it would run out of gas... but it has been doing this for a week now. Will it gas off forever?

Why does it matter? its a good thing if any thing cause its keeping co2 on top of the beer. just wait for the yeast to floc then rack it.

 

[kh54s10]

There is co2 in solution. Depending on atmospheric pressure and other things this will continue for many weeks, maybe longer. If you have a stable gravity at the predicted level, go ahead and bottle.

 

[CRoth36]

No worries. It's all good. Kind of like taking a crap but having gas for a period afterwords.

 

[ScrewyBrewer]

Most beer fermented near room temperature has about a .82 volume of residual Co2 in it once fermentation has completed. It's no going to hurt anything, not having it I'm not too sure about.

 

[Beer is good]

No worries. It's all good. Kind of like taking a crap but having gas for a period afterwords.

hahah!! yeah!!!

Well, I just shook my carboy as hard as I could for 5 minutes. I am going to do it again, I just had to let my arms rest. Now my beer is all cloudy though...

I am just joking, I didn't shake it!

Good to know that my yeast is not just rotting away on the bottom or something. Thanks for the explanations