I'm going on four days and am getting no fermentation. Is that normal? Should I pitch more yeast? It's an oktoberfest btw- if it matters. Still new to this home brew game. I have the fermenter @ just below 70F- should it b colder maybe?
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- Thread starter AMel85
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Then how do you know if you have fermentation or not?
Your airlock bubbling or not bubbling doesn't mean your beer has stalled or not, all it means is that your airlock isn't bubbling.
A beer may ferment perfectly fine without a single blip in the airlock. Or airlocks can start or stop or start and stop again, for a ton of other reasons, like temp changes, getting nudged by the cat or the vacuum cleaner, changes in barometric pressure, but your beer could still be fermenting fine.
Or the co2 is coming out the lid, or the grommet or the stopper. Nothing wrong with that, if co2 is getting out, nothing nasty is getting in.
Airlock activity is irrevelent. Just gravity points on a hydrometer.
The only way to truly know what is going on in your fermenter is with your hydrometer. Like I said here in my blog, which I encourage you to read, Think evaluation before action you sure as HELL wouldn't want a doctor to start cutting on you unless he used the proper diagnostic instuments like x-rays first, right? You wouldn't want him to just take a look in your eyes briefly and say "I'm cutting into your chest first thing in the morning." You would want them to use the right diagnostic tools before the slice and dice, right? You'd cry malpractice, I would hope, if they didn't say they were sending you for an MRI and other things before going in.
I've never EVER needed to re-pitch, and I've been brewing more than lkely far longer than you have....Take a gravity reading.
Q2XL
Well-Known Member
I disagree with this statement. Assuming that the lid or rubber stopper are 100% sealed, I really do not see that this can happen. The co2 has to go somwhere and it is most likely not getting assorbed back into the beer. While Revvy has been brewing longer than I have, I have never had a fermentation that did not have some type of airlock/blowoff tube action.
Fermentation may happen very quickly(overnight), but there will still be some activity if you are there to see it.
I DO agree that you should check the gravity to see where your beer is at.
Revvy- thank u (again) for the info. I just got my hydrometer yesterday. I will get a reading. I was going based off visuals. Guess I'm just a little paranoid and definitely a novice. As most if not all of us on here, I'm passionate about beer and wanna make sure I'm doing it right. I'll come back w/ a reading n try to relax in the meantime 
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Revvy's point was just that, if an airlock is malfunctioning you may not see any activity. Disagree with Revvy, ridiculous, ha
You can disagree buddy, but, as I've said for years, HALF my beers have never had a single blip in them.....That's how I learned not to trust or worry what the airlock is doing.
I've defended this statement way too many times to care if anyone believes it, but this is my standard answer to the doubters....That's been my expereince.
Youk now I'm in Fraser now, we gotta get together.
Q2XL
Well-Known Member
I know Revvy and he is a great guy! If what he is saying is that there may not be airlock activity because the carboy or bucket is not 100% sealed or you have some faulty piece of equipment then I agree with that statement. IF the carboy IS sealed then there will be some type of activity. Just my observations and opinions, that is all.
As a sidenote...you are much closer now that you are living in Fraser. Will you be at Big Brew Day in November?
Yes, as usual!!
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