Not exactly a beginner, but I need some information

[murphybottombrew]

Hello more experienced home brewers,

I have a batch of cherry wheat beer that has been in secondary for almost two weeks at around 72 degrees. I have made several batches of wine and beer in my three years of brewing and I have never had difficulty determining when fermentation is complete-until now.

The beer is beautiful, burgundy, and clear, the problem is three piece airlock {yeah, I know these are not popular, but I have never had any of the troubles I've read about with them} is acting strangely, the piece that actually moves up and down during fermentation to allow the gasses to escape remains pressed up aginst the top with no visible CO2 escaping... any ideas??

Either (a) I have too much head space in the carboy (had to use a 6 gallon instead of 5 because the 5 gal. is already in use), (b) it's still fermenting or, (c) the airlock is possessed (maybe I should try an "S")

Any help is appreciated, thank you in advance,

Jessica

 

[Revvy]

The ONLY way to determine if fermentation is complete is with 2 consecutive gravity readings over a three day period. Anything else, especially where airlocks are concerned is NOT accurate.

An airlock is a vent, a valve to release excess co2, it is NOT a fermentation gauge. It will often stop bubbling long before fermentation is complete...and it will often start and stop due to things other than fermentation, like changes in temps, barometric pressure changes, a truck driving by, the vacuum cleaner hitting it, the cat rubbing against it, or the dog trying to hump it.

If you use the airlock as a fermentation gauge, then more than likely you've been wrong more than right.

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....

Thinking about "doing anything" without taking a hydrometer reading is tantamount to the doctor deciding to cut you open without running any diagnostic tests....Taking one look at you and saying, "Yeah I'm going in." You would really want the doctor to use all means to properly diagnose what's going on?

Hydrometer, Hydrometer, Hydromter....

 

[Snicks]

What Revvy said, but I'd like to add that the inner part of your airlock should remain pushed to the top, even after fermentation stops. It means that there is a very slight pressure remaining in the fermenter and that the CO2 is trapped inside, protecting it from nasty O2 molecules.

 

[murphybottombrew]

While I appreciate the somewhat valuable information, there is no need to freak out sir. You could have gotten your point accross without being rude.

I use a hydrometer to get my OG anf FG to determine my ABV, but I've actually never had a bad batch, so no I haven't "been wrong more than..." Quite the contrary, I've made some of the best.

I celebrate the mind that invented the hydrometer, yet at the same time, I realize that long before there were all of the amenities we have in the way of homebrew supplies today that the brew masters were fermenting masterpieces.

That said, I will look into using the hydrometer more frequently, but I'm a mechanic, and if it ain't broke, I'm not going to bother to try to fix it.

I did not enter this forum to debate, let's keep it all informatinal and civil, shall we?

 

[murphybottombrew]

I appreciate the info.

What Revvy said, but I'd like to add that the inner part of your airlock should remain pushed to the top, even after fermentation stops. It means that there is a very slight pressure remaining in the fermenter and that the CO2 is trapped inside, protecting it from nasty O2 molecules.

 

[Revvy]

Who are you accusing of being rude????? I just gave you information...Nothing rude about it unless your skin is thin... This is the EXACT same info I've given thousands of times on here...Usually daily to folks who contemplate dumping their beer if their airlock doesn't bubble, or stops bubble....

You think me saying you MAY have been wrong is rude? Wow. So you never need to learn anything because you are always right then? So what's the point of this thread? I though you were looking for advice. Well, your premise that airlock bubbling = Fermentation or Lack of bubbling = Lack of fermentation is wrong... Sorry if that's too much for you. It's not like I called you a name or something.

Sheesh....

 

[MalFet]

I did not enter this forum to debate, let's keep it all informatinal and civil, shall we?

It's nothing personal against you. He just copy-and-pastes the same answer to everyone. Scientists estimate that 12% of HBT are the same four Revvy posts made over and over again

 

[Revvy]

I'm called because I'm a minister, and like any good minister, I comfort the afflicted AND afflict the comfortable....But mostly I spend long hours helping people....often by holding up a mirror to them, and challenging their deeply held notions of things....Getting them to think....You THINK an airlock tells you when fermentation is complete...It doesn't.

You asked for advice from experienced brewers, I am one. Whether you like or agree with my answer or not. It IS correct.

Use your hydrometer and you will know..

Nothing else is accurate. I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm not trying to debate. I just gave you the best answer to your "dillema."

No offense intended...

 

[Revvy]

It's nothing personal against you. He just copy-and-pastes the same answer to everyone. Scientists estimate that 12% of HBT are the same four Revvy posts made over and over again

Because 90% of the threads are the same 4 questions asked over and over again.....

*shrug*

 

[MalFet]

Because 90% of the threads are the same 4 questions asked over and over again.....

*shrug*

You're saying that HBT threads add up to 102%? Holy crap. I knew TxBrew was good, but that's crazy!

 

[Revvy]

I celebrate the mind that invented the hydrometer, yet at the same time, I realize that long before there were all of the amenities we have in the way of homebrew supplies today that the brew masters were fermenting masterpieces.

Really?

An early description of a hydrometer appears in a letter from Synesius of Cyrene to the Greek scholar Hypatia of Alexandria. In Synesius' fifteenth letter, he requests Hypatia to make a hydrometer for him. Hypatia is given credit for inventing the hydrometer (or hydroscope) sometime in the late 4th century or early 5th century.

The instrument in question is a cylindrical tube, which has the shape of a flute and is about the same size. It has notches in a perpendicular line, by means of which we are able to test the weight of the waters. A cone forms a lid at one of the extremities, closely fitted to the tube. The cone and the tube have one base only. This is called the baryllium. Whenever you place the tube in water, it remains erect. You can then count the notches at your ease, and in this way ascertain the weight of the water.

According to the Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science, it was used by Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī in the 11th century and described by Al-Khazini in the 12th century.

It later appeared again in the work of Jacques Alexandre César Charles in the 18th century.

So they've been brewing with hydromters for quite some time actually...Maybe not as far as Gilgamesh, and the hymn to Ninkasi....But pretty damn far into our brewing history.

At least as far as the SCIENCE of brewing has been going on. And since they've learned about consistency in brewing.

And I think the airlock may have come a few centuries later.....

Know of much good "brewing masterpieces" that are older than the 4th century do you? Care to post a recipe for it then?

 

[MalFet]

 

[scrambledegg81]

It will often stop bubbling long before fermentation is complete...and it will often start and stop due to things other than fermentation, like changes in temps, barometric pressure changes, a truck driving by, the vacuum cleaner hitting it, the cat rubbing against it, or the dog trying to hump it.

Post of the year, Rev.

 

[Dan]

To you and especially to your signature MalFet.

 

[Dan]

Really?

An early description of a hydrometer appears in a letter from Synesius of Cyrene to the Greek scholar Hypatia of Alexandria. In Synesius' fifteenth letter, he requests Hypatia to make a hydrometer for him. Hypatia is given credit for inventing the hydrometer (or hydroscope) sometime in the late 4th century or early 5th century.

The instrument in question is a cylindrical tube, which has the shape of a flute and is about the same size. It has notches in a perpendicular line, by means of which we are able to test the weight of the waters. A cone forms a lid at one of the extremities, closely fitted to the tube. The cone and the tube have one base only. This is called the baryllium. Whenever you place the tube in water, it remains erect. You can then count the notches at your ease, and in this way ascertain the weight of the water.

According to the Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science, it was used by Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī in the 11th century and described by Al-Khazini in the 12th century.

It later appeared again in the work of Jacques Alexandre César Charles in the 18th century.

So they've been brewing with hydromters for quite some time actually...Maybe not as far as Gilgamesh, and the hymn to Ninkasi....But pretty damn far into our brewing history.

At least as far as the SCIENCE of brewing has been going on. And since they've learned about consistency in brewing.

And I think the airlock may have come a few centuries later.....

Know of much good "brewing masterpieces" that are older than the 4th century do you? Care to post a recipe for it then?

Revvy, I don't know if you cut and paste but if you do I certainly understand why. Your posts are always very well laid out and informative. I can't imagine writing out the good advice you give over AND over many times each week.

You are certainly a passionate fellow and express it in your words. Read a little bit of your credo tonight and understand where the vigor comes from in your post.

And to be honest your older post were very encouraging (EDIT: Uncalled for words deleted)

Keep on trucking!