Newbie secondary fermentor airlock activity

[Kent Marsengill]

Brewed a caribou slobber extract kit Dec 9th, SG 1.052, great airlock activity for 2 days and then it pretty much stopped, 2 weeks in primary, transfered to carboy, specific gravity was 1.02, no airlock activity for 2 more weeks, was getting ready to keg it and now the airlock is bubbling again. So, my question is, do I follow the directions ( 2 weeks primary and 2 weeks secondary) or wait untill it stops bubbling and check the specific gravity again before kegging? , Thanks for any advice, Kent

 

[Jag75]

Just check it for a few days in a row . If it stays the same your done . I have never had to go more then 3 weeks and 2 days. I usually go for 3 weeks then keg. Being 4 weeks I would think yours is done .

 

[MrHadack]

Hello!
Airlock activity is not the best measure of how fermentation is progressing; gravity measurements are.
Generally, the way to proceed is to let it sit for a couple weeks and then take a gravity reading. Let it sit for another 3 days and take a second gravity reading. If the gravity remains unchanged in those three days (AND the gravity is in the ballpark of where you expected it to be) then it's done.

But let's talk a bit about knowing what the final gravity should be. You can look up the expected attenuation of the yeast you used and then do a quick calculation to determine the ballpark expected FG. For example, if you used Wyeast 1332 (Northwest) the expected attenuation is 67% - 71%. To determine the ballpark final gravity range, take the numbers after the decimal point in the OG reading (52) and multiply it by 0.67. Then subtract that number from the gravity number you just used in that equation. For example:

52 * .67 = 35 (34.84 rounded up)
1.052 - 1.035 = 1.017

Do this again for the upper limit of the attenuation range:

52 * .71 = 37 (36.92 rounded up)
1.052 - 1.037 = 1.015

Your expected final gravity with this yeast should be between 1.015 and 1.017 if everything went well. Your gravity number shows an attenuation of 60%. It's close, so I suspect it is done if that number doesn't change for a few days. Since your gravity is higher than expected, something wasn't optimal. Either the temperature isn't good, or perhaps something else needs adjusting in your brewing process. Now, if your current attenuation showed something way off like 40%, then I would wonder if fermentation had stalled for some reason.

What yeast did you use, and what temperature has it been fermenting?

 

[balrog]

If ambient temp warms, headspace gas expands causing airlock bubbles
If beer temp warms, CO2 comes out of solution causing airlock bubbles
If the weather changes and local barometric pressure changes this will cause airlock bubbles

SG changes due to yeast eating sugar creating alcohol and CO2 also causes airlock bubbles but that's the only one you care about. Unless you've got poltergeists messing with you, but that's another problem.

So measure your SG. I've always found darker, more crystal malt, beers take a bit longer than lighter, less crystal malt beers, to finish.

 

[RM-MN]

So, my question is, do I follow the directions ( 2 weeks primary and 2 weeks secondary) or wait untill it stops bubbling and check the specific gravity again before kegging?

No, you don't follow instructions especially if they call for secondary. You only use secondary if you add something fermentable when the main part of the fermentation is over. Otherwise a secondary is not needed and only adds complexity to the job while opening a chance for infection and oxidation.

As mentioned above, bubbling in the airlock is not an indicator of the state of the fermentation. The hydrometer it the right tool for that. The airlock is there to allow excess gas to escape while keeping bugs out and to entertain the brewer.

Take a look at this short article to learn more about the timeline of fermentation. http://www.brewgeeks.com/the-life-cycle-of-yeast.html

 

[Kent Marsengill]

Thanks for all the input. To answer the yeast question, it was Danstar Windsor Ale dry yeast, the temp where it is fermenting is between 64- 70 degrees. With that being said we had a January warm up, here in southeast Iowa and could have some effect on the temps in the room it was fermenting. Down side is that I broke the hydrometer when i was washing everything from racking to the secondary,.new hydrometer is supposed to be here tomorrow. Will post on how it turns out.

 

[RM-MN]

Down side is that I broke the hydrometer when i was washing everything from racking to the secondary,.new hydrometer is supposed to be here tomorrow.

I have a theory that hydrometers are social creatures and one by itself gets lonesome and commits suicide. If you buy 2 the first one gets chummy with the second and never commits suicide. Anyway, if you do buy 2 and one does break you still can take your hydrometer sample.

 

[Soulshine2]

Brewed a caribou slobber extract kit Dec 9th, SG 1.052, great airlock activity for 2 days and then it pretty much stopped, 2 weeks in primary, transfered to carboy, specific gravity was 1.02, no airlock activity for 2 more weeks, was getting ready to keg it and now the airlock is bubbling again. So, my question is, do I follow the directions ( 2 weeks primary and 2 weeks secondary) or wait untill it stops bubbling and check the specific gravity again before kegging? , Thanks for any advice, Kent

what is your fermentation temperature? Is it steady or is it fluctuating?

 

[Jag75]

I have a theory that hydrometers are social creatures and one by itself gets lonesome and commits suicide. If you buy 2 the first one gets chummy with the second and never commits suicide. Anyway, if you do buy 2 and one does break you still can take your hydrometer sample.

1 is none 2 is 1

 

[Soulshine2]

1 is none 2 is 1

I keep mine in mixed company. The "other" hydrometer thats checks my 'shine , the floating glass thermometer and the glass test jar. All snug in their original plastic tubes and...I keep them in one of those padded briefcase looking hard cases from harbor freight.

 

[Jag75]

I keep mine in mixed company. The "other" hydrometer thats checks my 'shine , the floating glass thermometer and the glass test jar. All snug in their original plastic tubes and...I keep them in one of those padded briefcase looking hard cases from harbor freight.

That's is way cool right there. Nice idea