Is this normal krausen?

[HonestAbe]

I have only fermented in buckets and have had great success with them. That said I have never been able to see the krausen mid process.

My concern is that I have had zero airlock activity since 4/19 when this extract batch was first brewed but when I put my ear to the bucket I can hear the bubbles moving about.

Here are two pics I snapped a few days ago and this morning. The bubbles in the krausen never seemed to pop...

This was approx. 3 days ago



And this morning.

 

[bobeer]

Looks normal to me. I'd let it sit for 3 weeks and it should mostly fall out by then. I've had beer look like this after 2 or so weeks and it was totally fine. How long was your lag time before the yeast started to do their thing?
It can still be fermenting even though you don't have any airlock activity.

What was the OG? Have you taken any FG readings across the span of a few days to see if it's finished fermenting?

 

[andy6026]

yep, that's it. Looks tasty, doesn't it?

 

[HonestAbe]

The OG was 1.060. I haven't taken a FG reading yet since I can still hear it bubbling through the bucket. Sounds like a hot soda being poured into a glass.

Once the krausen falls out I'll take an FG reading. Until then I'll let the yeast keep doing it thing.

 

[brew_ny]

looks like 04 or 05 in a darker beer

so it looks normal

all the best

S_M

 

[unionrdr]

That is a funky looking krausen. Kinda dry on top,but should be OK. Fermentation is not a pretty thing...

 

[JimRausch]

Abe-as I'm sure you figured out, you must have a leak somewhere that the CO2 is escaping from rather than through the airlock.
My last batch I never saw any airlock activity, although there was a little brown staining around the airlock/bucket rubber grommet. No worries because the SG dropped normally. After 3 weeks, when it was time to bottle and I opened the lid, that grommet was degraded and broken. Replaced the grommet and this current batch is abubbling away.

 

[unionrdr]

I had problems like that with my Cooper's Microbrew fermenter. Then I noticed some molding flash where the mold seems came over the lid seal area & threads where the lid screws on. I used a #1 exacto knife to trim the flash off & it sealed up great.

 

[HonestAbe]

I think the lid that I'm using leaks. It came from a different bucket and the seal is to thick for the rim.

Any ideas on how to test for air leaks during fermentation?

 

[skw]

Sometimes krausen just doesn't like to fall by itself. Very, very gently move the closed fermenter a bit just enough to cause a ripple in the surface, that might be enough to give you a crystal clear surface tomorrow.

 

[Jupapabear]

Usually if I do not see any airlock activity, I assume there is an air leak. Removing the lid and snapping it back on always works for me. I usually only take the lid off if I am paranoid. When I see krausen, I sigh with relief and snap that baby back on. I do not know of a way to test for a leak though except to not see any activity as a probable indicator.

 

[unionrdr]

With bucket fermenters,it's always good,when cleaning them,to scrub the seal area with cleaner of your choice & a soft toothbrush. Any gritty sort of stuff on the seal will lift it that little bit & prevent a tight seal. I even hose mine down with my spray bottle of Starsan right before sealing the bucket.

 

[gregfreemyer]

I think the lid that I'm using leaks. It came from a different bucket and the seal is to thick for the rim.

Any ideas on how to test for air leaks during fermentation?

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Obviously the fermentation process creates CO2. CO2 weighs more than O2, so the head space fills with CO2 from the bottom up and pushes the O2 out the top. There is no reason for outside air to get sucked back into the fermenter.

Unless you don't have stable temps. If your fermenter gets up to the low 70s, and then falls to around 60, then the CO2 will get denser and suck a little air in bypassing the airlock. Clearly that's bad for the yeast in the first place, so I hope you don't have that much temp change.

fyi: If you ever cold crash, you should use a S-type fermentation lock because it lets gases go out during ferment, and back in during the cold crash.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/medi...8d27136e95/a/i/airlock-s-bubble-type_mod_.jpg