Need advice for second brew,and first.

[Addicted]

I know i should not worry yet but i am.I did my first brew Monday and Tuesday morning the airlock was bubbling away.But since then over the past few days it has slowed to no activity at all.Of course I'm nervous,should i agitate it some to get the yeast going again?

And I'm going to start another batch soon,I'm going to order the stuff this week.I like Chimay so I'm going with thishttp://new.midwestsupplies.com/noble-trappist-ale.html,it says it is a good idea to culture yeast from a Chimay bottle.But i have no idea how to do that or what Chimay to use.I have the three bottles in my fridge now,so i can use any one of them.

 

[Netflyer]

I like Chimay too but it is a complicated, high gravity beer and I wouldn't recommend it for your second brew (not to be negative) but maybe get a few more low gravity beers under your belt first. Typically you have to culture the yeast out of that bottle by adding sugar and then putting it on a stir plate and hopefully you can get some activity. There are detailed directions if you search for culturing yeast out of existing beer. But I do think you will need a stir plate. Then for the Chimay I think you have to use Belgium rock candy and the correct yeast. But mind you Chimay is very high gravity and that means a lot of extract (I'm assuming your doing extract). If you do brew it be really careful about boil over.

As far as your airlock situation don't worry, leave it 14-21 days (the longer the better) and then bottle it. You'll be fine... those airlocks can leak around the sides and stuff, never trust em'

Good luck and welcome to the game...

 

[Addicted]

Hmm,i really want to brew this one as my next.I'll do some searches on culturing yeast and see what i think about it.It Can't be any harder than Mycology,i had good luck with that.As for boil overs,i am using a keggle,i should not have to worry about a boil over on a five gallon batch with that i would think.Or would i?

I will leave the beer i have fermenting alone and see what happens,but I'm pretty sure this has a good seal now.I'm just overly nervous because It's my first batch.