My first homebrew problem

[flars]

From the first pic it was obvious that your fermentation was finished. Lots of yeast in that jug. You will get a 8 or 9pack instead of a 12pack though.

Now let it sit undisturbed for a week or two. The yeast will drop out of suspension and the yeast trub/layer will compact allowing you to siphon off the maximum amount of beer for bottling.

 

[res1bcb1]

Now let it sit undisturbed for a week or two. The yeast will drop out of suspension and the yeast trub/layer will compact allowing you to siphon off the maximum amount of beer for bottling.

i mean after i shook it and put air lock back on it did bubble a few times and still had pressure in airlock

 

[Kampenken]

i mean after i shook it and put air lock back on it did bubble a few times and still had pressure in airlock

Seriously that's not surprising. Typically when I move my conical upstairs for bottling (I hate doing that w/5.5g or more in there, need my dedicated space done!) I will see a bubble, or more, And that's 2 weeks in the fermenter! I then will take a hydro reading, and will likely be at terminal (FG) gravity.

Also, go to Brewer's Friend, use their recipe calculator, entering in the fermentables (grains or extracts, its all there!), hops, yeast and other data as requested- should all be listed in your kit. Then BF will calculate the OG (original, post boil gravity, what goes into your fermenter) and will give you a FG as well. You can measure these as well with your newly shorter hydrometer that by now you've purchased! Then compare. With an extract kit you'll likely be spot on. With AG, it will depend a lot on your system and methods, as well as your water. You can play around in there and see impacts on OG/FG (fermentables, yeast, mash temp etc..). But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself... I like brewing!

As for another resource, Palmer's book is available on line too.

 

[flars]

i mean after i shook it and put air lock back on it did bubble a few times and still had pressure in airlock

The bubbling seen in the airlock was most likely residual CO2 coming out of solution and CO2 trapped in the trub layer.

 

[res1bcb1]

Seriously that's not surprising. Typically when I move my conical upstairs for bottling (I hate doing that w/5.5g or more in there, need my dedicated space done!) I will see a bubble, or more, And that's 2 weeks in the fermenter! I then will take a hydro reading, and will likely be at terminal (FG) gravity.

Also, go to Brewer's Friend, use their recipe calculator, entering in the fermentables (grains or extracts, its all there!), hops, yeast and other data as requested- should all be listed in your kit. Then BF will calculate the OG (original, post boil gravity, what goes into your fermenter) and will give you a FG as well. You can measure these as well with your newly shorter hydrometer that by now you've purchased! Then compare. With an extract kit you'll likely be spot on. With AG, it will depend a lot on your system and methods, as well as your water. You can play around in there and see impacts on OG/FG (fermentables, yeast, mash temp etc..). But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself... I like brewing!

As for another resource, Palmer's book is available on line too.

so i checked it with correct hydrometer reading 1036 ... but my house was a little warm i checked temp as well was 79° im slowly reducing temp now to 65

 

[Kampenken]

so i checked it with correct hydrometer reading 1036 ... but my house was a little warm i checked temp as well was 79° im slowly reducing temp now to 65

You may be hosed. That's a high gravity reading (about 1 week now?) given what you've reported and a high ferm temp. Large swings in ferm temps are not good to beer. You will make beer there, but this one I suspect now won't be good. However, let it go a full 2 weeks, take a gravity reading (in a vial this time if you didn't last time) and if dropped again, bottle, sit at room temp 2-3 weeks, fridge 2 days or so and sample. In the meantime brew again and keep learning from your experience.

 

[ncbrewer]

let it go a full 2 weeks, take a gravity reading (in a vial this time if you didn't last time) and if dropped again, bottle, sit at room temp 2-3 weeks, fridge 2 days or so and sample.

Personally, I'd give it a total of 3 weeks fermenting if you're not going to do the "two samples 2 - 3 days apart" test. It's not likely, but possible to get a little more fermentation after 2 weeks. 3 weeks will reduce the chance of bottle bombs.

 

[jdbic]

I did a search for counting bubbles in the air lock and came across this thread. Just about what I was looking for. So , If I get 1 bubble every 3 to 4 minutes apart, would it be safe to assume that fermenting is done? Today will be 12 days fermenting.

 

[Britinusa]

The best method is to take hydrometer reads a few days apart, if they are the same then fermentation is done, i never trust airlock activity.
I started with those Brooklyn brew shop kits a few years ago, i learned a lot using those, but the biggest thing i learned is, you can't rush beer! it needs 2-3 weeks in fermentation then 2-3 weeks in the bottle.

 

[flars]

Unfortunately you can find all sorts of information and opinions posted on the internet. Just because it is there doesn't mean it is good information. Timing bubbles still is not a good way to determine when fermentation is done. It may be a good way to gauge how active the fermentation is, but the hydrometer is still the best for determining when FG has been reached.

Consider how timing the bubbles will not work if CO2 can leak around the air lock or rim of a bucket. Bubbles in the airlock may not be present for several days, but the fermentation is still ongoing at a lower rate, just producing less CO2 pressure.

 

[jdbic]

OK, thanks. just getting antsy. I'll force myself to be patient. just started brewing again after many years. My son is helping and he can't wait. I think starting another batch while waiting to bottle will cure the inpatients

 

[res1bcb1]

so i was looking thru pics i took of my first brew and came across this.... do you think the layers on top was the kreusen

 

[flars]

Definitely krausen beginning to drop.

 

[Kampenken]

Yup!

This is about 2 weeks old now, right? Hold off until 3 weeks as was suggested above, a good idea, then bottle, take FG and taste (will be flat of course but give you an indication). Keep us posted, and brew on!

 

[res1bcb1]

will do thanks guys! i had ordered a whole new kit cause i cant find ok one in stores. so when kits comes ill be bottling this beer and starting a new batch and then another batch a week after that

 

[res1bcb1]

Yup!

This is about 2 weeks old now, right? Hold off until 3 weeks as was suggested above, a good idea, then bottle, take FG and taste (will be flat of course but give you an indication). Keep us posted, and brew on!

and yes about 2 weeks old . and should i take fg before bottling?

 

[ncbrewer]

I highly recommend taking gravity reading 2 or 3 days before your planned bottling day, then another on bottling day. If gravity is the same, and around predicted FG, and the beer is clear or slightly misty, it's ready to bottle. If gravity has dropped, it isn't finished - check again later. If you bottle before fermentation is complete, it can finish fermenting in the bottles and cause bottle bombs - dangerous. At three weeks it's pretty sure to be finished, but it's best not to gamble.

 

[res1bcb1]

I highly recommend taking gravity reading 2 or 3 days before your planned bottling day, then another on bottling day. If gravity is the same, and around predicted FG, and the beer is clear or slightly misty, it's ready to bottle. If gravity has dropped, it isn't finished - check again later. If you bottle before fermentation is complete, it can finish fermenting in the bottles and cause bottle bombs - dangerous. At three weeks it's pretty sure to be finished, but it's best not to gamble.

well this first batch... im going to bottle but as always time heals all... im going to let my first batch sit for possibly another week or so before bottling or maybe just a few more days until new kit comes in mail.. i definitely believe my first batch is done fermenting its only a gallon with a ton of sediment so i dont want to waste any pouring into A separate glass to test.. prob only ganna get 5 beers or 6 beers from first batch

 

[Kampenken]

will do thanks guys! i had ordered a whole new kit cause i cant find ok one in stores. so when kits comes ill be bottling this beer and starting a new batch and then another batch a week after that

Glad to hear it. Another one to add to the home brewing community!

 

[res1bcb1]

Glad to hear it. Another one to add to the home brewing community!

lol Kampenken ill send you a link to my second homebrew. lol youll see much improvement .

 

[res1bcb1]

http://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/images/smilies/occasion14.gif

 

[res1bcb1]

You may be hosed. That's a high gravity reading (about 1 week now?) given what you've reported and a high ferm temp. Large swings in ferm temps are not good to beer. You will make beer there, but this one I suspect now won't be good. However, let it go a full 2 weeks, take a gravity reading (in a vial this time if you didn't last time) and if dropped again, bottle, sit at room temp 2-3 weeks, fridge 2 days or so and sample. In the meantime brew again and keep learning from your experience.

hey bro heres my second brew. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=7370284#post7370284

 

[Zigs6]

Kind of looks like he put all of the cold break material right into the fermenter. Did you just dump the whole kettle in there? I had a carboy that looked similar once but not quite that bad because I got too greedy to get every last drop of wort into the fermenter. Some things are better left behind. Less is more. Either that or he has a whole bunch of dead yeast on the bottom not fermenting anything. Only a gravity reading will tell.

 

[res1bcb1]

Kind of looks like he put all of the cold break material right into the fermenter. Did you just dump the whole kettle in there? I had a carboy that looked similar once but not quite that bad because I got too greedy to get every last drop of wort into the fermenter. Some things are better left behind. Less is more. Either that or he has a whole bunch of dead yeast on the bottom not fermenting anything. Only a gravity reading will tell.

nope unfortunately just didnt have the best strainers. .. check the link to see my 2nd home brew!!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=7370284#post7370284