Is it supposed to look like this?

[honus03]

This is my first attempt to brew beer. It's an American Wheat. I brewed it up on Friday. Had activity in the airlock on Saturday morning. Sunday evening I snuck a peek into the fermentation bucket just to see what was going on. Since then I have no activity in the airlock so I took another peek today and this is what it looked like. Like I said this is my first attempt and other pictures I have seen of fermentation look more active then this.

 

[smccarter]

Yes.... looks yummy.

 

[j1n]

Majority of the fermentation is done but it still needs more time to clean up. you can see where the krausen rose and fell from teh side of the bucket. everything looks fine to me.

 

[Four5_Brewery]

Looks like beer to me.

 

[blackbeer]

Rdwhahb

 

[honus03]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I'm glad that it's supposed to look this way. Guess I should be able to bottle this batch this weekend?

 

[kev211]

Guess I should be able to bottle this batch this weekend?

Noooooooo. Patience grasshopper. If you dont have a hydrometer, I would strongly suggest getting one. That way you can tell when you have reached a stable FG (Final Gravity). But I can tell you that, a beer brewed on a Friday will probably cause bottle bombs if bottled the following weekend. I would give it a minimum of one more week. Two more weeks wouldnt hurt either

Edit: +1 to chuckcomm. Everytime you open the lid you risk oxygenation, infection, etc. Keep er' closed and you will be happier in the end

 

[chuckcomm]

Probably shouldnt keep popping the lid...I know its tempting but just not a good idea. I would let it sit another week and take your SG readings a couple days apart. If they are the same bottle it up.

It hasnt even been a week fermenting. I give them two weeks at the very least usually more.

It does look nice.

 

[honus03]

Thanks. I can wait another week or 2 and will work on getting a hydrometer.

 

[kev211]

Hydrometer-Clicky
Hydrometer Test Jar-Clicky

 

[unionrdr]

I agree. It looks perfectly fine for being past intial fermentation. At this point, it'll slowly, uneventfully creep down to FG. I then give it 3-7 days to clean up & settle out clear or slightly misty before bottling. Your's looks like it's settling out nicely already. but that can be a bad thing if it's not down to FG yet. My kottbusser is at that point. What's the current temp of the beer & what yeast did you use?

 

[honus03]

I used the Safale US-05 dry yeast that came with the extract kit and the temp of the beer is right around 68 degrees.

 

[unionrdr]

Good temp & that yeast brews clean. If you had any high or low temp spikes it might've gone to sleep.

 

[honus03]

Only temp change was when I moved it to a different spot. Is only maybe 2 or 3 degrees cooler where it is now.

 

[unionrdr]

65-66F is still good for that yeast. But lower temps do tend to slow the yeast down. Which in my experience can be a good thing to help prevent blow outs & get a good, even fermentation.

 

[kombat]

I like US-05 at exactly 63.5° F. It obviates the need for a blowoff tube.

 

[Homercidal]

If I were a new brewer I'd sanitize something to dip in that bucket and get a taste!

Remember a wheat beer is usually best when fresh, so don't wait *too* long to drink it up! Just make sure you get close to your FG before bottling to prevent accidents. Trust me, a bottle can explode with enough force to cut you bad.

 

[grevengrevs]

Just in case you weren't convinced that what you got is good, here is a pic of an Irish Red that has been fermenting for about 10 days. As you can see it looks a lot like yours. The trub has started to sink and is clearing up pretty well.
Sorry for the poor picture, it was taken through the carboy in bad lighting on my phone.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Close the lid and quit opening it. Let it sit for another week or 2. It looks like the most active fermentation is done..the krausen rose and fell (as seen on the sides). I know it's tempting and curiosity can get the better of us, but close the lid and keep it closed for another week or 2 then do a final gravity test then bottle.