Issues with my first batch?

[Majormite]

Hey everyone, happy to have found the board!

I am brewing my first batch, Williams English Bitter, and I have a question. After 10 days now, I haven't seen any bubbles in my valve. I did see plenty of foam after a few days, and I have a nice yeasty ring around the top, but should I be worried about no bubbles in the chamber?

I did have it in slightly chilly temps for a couple of days, so maybe it just needs a little extra time?

Thanks for any input!

Major.

 

[thezepster]

If there were never any bubbles in your airlock but there was some krausen (thats the foam your talking about) then you must have a leak somewhere. When yeast eats the sugar in the wort the byproducts are alcohol and co2. So that co2 must have gone somewhere. If you do have a small leak somewhere i wouldnt be too worried about it. Im going through the same thing right now, and everything is going smoothly. Maybe try to find the leak and put some duct tape on it if u can

 

[johngault007]

Nope, nothing to worry about, the yeast are still happily working, although at a drastically lower rate.

Personally, I would wait about 4 more days and then check the gravity. If it's about where it should be, wait a day or 2 and check again. If no change, it should be good to rack into bottles/kegs.

If you are impatient like I am, you can check between 10-12 days and do another check at 14.

 

[ayoungrad]

If there were never any bubbles in your airlock but there was some krausen (thats the foam your talking about) then you must have a leak somewhere. When yeast eats the sugar in the wort the byproducts are alcohol and co2. So that co2 must have gone somewhere. If you do have a small leak somewhere i wouldnt be too worried about it. Im going through the same thing right now, and everything is going smoothly. Maybe try to find the leak and put some duct tape on it if u can

Agreed.

It's NBD if there is a leak (which there likely is). If you want to check the progress, check a gravity but you might as well wait to check the gravity until the krausen falls.

 

[Majormite]

Thanks so much guys! Appreciate the help! Glad to be aboard!