No fermentation. First time brewing.

[T_HUFF4130]

So this is out first attempt at brewing. Using the brewmasters select Sierra pale ale clone kit. Everything went according to plan with the wort. Had a little boil over but caught it quickly. Cooled the wort to the right temp according to the included instructions. Pitched the yeast properly. It has now been 48 hours and there doesn't seem to be any activity. No air lock bubbling (which i see doesnt really matter) Og was 1.040 (which is a little lower than what the kit says it should be 1.058 I believe). Haven't checked it again because I'm trying my best to be patient. I've checked it a couple times and its basically cleared up. A small amount of foam but not what I expected. Should I be worried? Again this is the first attempt at brewing. Thanks for any advice.

 

[jekeane]

Im assuming this is an extract kit and you used top off water? If so it is very likely you took a bad reading for your OG when you add top off water the wort and water stratify and you often don't get a good OG reading.

How big a batch? 1 gallon or 5 gallons?

Are you using a bucket? If so buckets don't seal well at times and as you mentioned airlock activity or lack there of doesn't mean much if that is the case.

Yeast: What type did you use? How did you pitch it? At what temperature?

It sounds to me like you had some krausen (foam from yeast activity) and it is quite possible fermentation came and went quickly just like a (insert joke here). If you are concerned nothing happened at all, go ahead and sanitize your hydrometer and check the gravity. Fermentation can take up to 48 hours to get going depending on yeast and how well you oxygenated.

I would suggest ignoring it for a day then checking the gravity if nothing noticeable is going on. Do this all in the most sanitary way possible. You are likely fine and should just have a beer.

 

[dlbrewton]

One quick note is that the airlock is not a sign of fermentation. A small air leak in your bucket could cause the airlock to not bubble. Me personally would open the lid and look for the krausen on top indicating fermentation. If so the wait a few more days and check your gravity.
Good luck and congrats on your first brew.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[T_HUFF4130]

It's a 5 gallon batch. Should I have checked the og before adding top off water?
Honestly, I can't remember the exact temp I pitched the yeast at. I'm at the bar now. I did follow the directions for pitching and took notes on everything we did. I'll look back over it when I get home.
I am using a bucket, but it seems to seal. Before brewing I filled it with about 4 gal of water and put the lid on with the air lock. When I push the center of the lid it bubbled and when I released the water moved from one side to other. To me, this shows a right seal, but I could be wrong.

 

[T_HUFF4130]

One quick note is that the airlock is not a sign of fermentation. A small air leak in your bucket could cause the airlock to not bubble. Me personally would open the lid and look for the krausen on top indicating fermentation. If so the wait a few more days and check your gravity.
Good luck and congrats on your first brew.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

Thanks! Yea I'm stoked on finally trying my hand at this. I know the air lock is not the best thing to go by, just mentioning it. I checked it about an hour ago before leaving and it about a 1/4" foam around the edge. May be krausen forming but I'm not sure. I'm being patient, button girlfriend (avid craft beer drinker and bartender) is impatient as hell haha.

 

[jekeane]

It shows a level of sealing but you never know how sealed they are. It's air so it can sneak out anywhere.

Checking your gravity after adding the water is fine. If you check after topping up and shaking it very well to oygenate you should get a close OG but even then temperature, density, and other factors don't let everything really come together for a bit. The first full boil with extract I did was the first time I hit my OG on the button otherwise it was always a bit wonky.

Some people swear by taking a gravity reading before adding the water and then only topping up until they get to the exact OG. This method involve a lot of shaking and stirring and honestly shouldn't be needed. A good premade kit should hit all its numbers unless there is some major user error. (ie getting savagely drunk and forgetting to put the extract in)

 

[T_HUFF4130]

I came home and popped the lid, there's definitely some action now. Patience is a virtue. Lesson learned!!! Thanks for the help guys.

 

[CanAusBrewer]

Could also be temperature related. I know in the winter here in Australia if often takes a couple days for my brews to kick off. Also, RDWHAHB

 

[T_HUFF4130]

Yea that could def be a factor. It's around 65 in the room we use. Doesn't get sun during the day so Italy only climb a couple of degrees. When I'm off work I'll get an idea of that.

 

[T_HUFF4130]

It shows a level of sealing but you never know how sealed they are. It's air so it can sneak out anywhere.

Checking your gravity after adding the water is fine. If you check after topping up and shaking it very well to oygenate you should get a close OG but even then temperature, density, and other factors don't let everything really come together for a bit. The first full boil with extract I did was the first time I hit my OG on the button otherwise it was always a bit wonky.

Some people swear by taking a gravity reading before adding the water and then only topping up until they get to the exact OG. This method involve a lot of shaking and stirring and honestly shouldn't be needed. A good premade kit should hit all its numbers unless there is some major user error. (ie getting savagely drunk and forgetting to put the extract in)

Thanks for the advice dude!

 

[DU99]

you could ditch the lid.use a couple layers of glad wrap and use the o-ring.you can see what's happening

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/using-cling-wrap-instead-air-lock-175544/