Partial Extract Kit

[Silentclint]

I brewed a partial extract pumpkin spice ale and after about 2 days the airlock activity stopped. I have read not to worry about this so I have left it in the fermenter. It has been about 4 days and I just want to be sure that the batch isn't ruined, is there a way to tell? Do I just let it sit another 5-6 days then transfer to my secondary for a few weeks? Any thoughts?

Cheers!

Clint

 

[onipar]

I brewed a partial extract pumpkin spice ale and after about 2 days the airlock activity stopped. I have read not to worry about this so I have left it in the fermenter. It has been about 4 days and I just want to be sure that the batch isn't ruined, is there a way to tell? Do I just let it sit another 5-6 days then transfer to my secondary for a few weeks? Any thoughts?

Cheers!

Clint

You can test by taking a hydrometer reading. I usually won't bother taking a reading until at least 2 weeks pass, knowing that I will leave it for at least another week or two. The reason being, if I do have a stuck or stalled fermentation, there's still time at 2 weeks to rouse the yeast or repitch, though I've never had to.

Also, at 2 weeks the reading should be close to your final gravity. But if you take a reading after only a few days, though there will be a drop, it's probably still fermenting, which means you wouldn't know whether or not it's stalled anyway, without taking two or three consecutive readings to see if it continues to drop over a couple days. Better to just wait the 2-3 weeks before taking a reading.

Otherwise, I wouldn't worry. I'll bet your beer is fine. Airlock activity can be misleading, and you shouldn't use it to gauge how the beer is fermenting.

EDIT: Oh, and don't transfer to secondary for at least 3 weeks, if at all. If you need to because of the pumpkin trub, the only reason for doing it would be to clarify the beer, and you don't want to take the beer off the yeast trub before it's done cleaning up.

 

[Calder]

Don't be afraid of the wort, but don't be stupid either.

Do you have an hydrometer. If not, get one, it will be the one tool you will use more than anything, and will provide you with more information about the beer than anything else you have.

Take a sample. I use a sanitized plastic turkey baster, dedicated to this task, that I picked up at a dollar store. Open the fermenter, fill the hydrometer jar using the baster, re-seal the fermenter, and check the gravity.

......... Oh ....... and drink the sample, even if it's cloudy.

Then leave it for a few weeks. Unless you have a specific reason, there is no need for secondary.

 

[unionrdr]

It can take 2-5 days on average to get through initial fermentation. That's the point where you see the airlock slow down or stop. Or it may not bubble at all. I've still gotten good ferments either way.
But use your hydrometer. It'll tell you more than that airlock ever will. It's just a pressure release valve.

 

[Silentclint]

Thanks for all the help. Any of you guys have a flavorful light beer partial extract recipe?

 

[Silentclint]

How do I get my batch to start fermentation again? I opened the lid and it looked as if nothing has happened in the 5 days it has been fermenting. Do I need to buy a yeast nutrient? Is it ok to add into the batch without damaging the batch? Please let me know.

 

[Pappers_]

How do I get my batch to start fermentation again? I opened the lid and it looked as if nothing has happened in the 5 days it has been fermenting. Do I need to buy a yeast nutrient? Is it ok to add into the batch without damaging the batch? Please let me know.

Clint, you can't tell by looking at it if anything has happened. The only way to tell is to get a hydrometer reading.

Don't add yeast nutrient at this time, that would be wasted.

 

[Silentclint]

If I take a reading what should I look for?

 

[Silentclint]

Clint, you can't tell by looking at it if anything has happened. The only way to tell is to get a hydrometer reading.

Don't add yeast nutrient at this time, that would be wasted.

Thanks, I checked and the gravity reading was 1.020 and the original gravity was 1.060. You are right I just need to RDWAEAHB!