Primary fermentation done already?

[dime1622]

I brewed my Northern Brewer hefe extract kit on Wednesday night, and everything went off without a hitch. I pitched the Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan yeast a little higher than I had hoped at 76 degrees (was aiming for 72 like the smack pack suggested). The smack pack had been activated about 7-8 hours earlier and was as inflated as it could be. I then put the fermenter in my basement where it is a constant 68 degrees day and night.

Thursday morning, the airlock (3-piece) was going wild, and the Fermometer was reading 76 degrees, a bit higher than I wanted. I figured it'd drop a little as the fermentation calmed down.

As of tonight, just 48 hours after brewing, the airlock is completely inactive. The Fermometer is now reading 72 degrees. I don't really want to open it up to test the SG yet (partially because I still need to buy a hydrometer ), but if fermentation has stalled I don't know if I want it sitting for a week.

Thoughts?

 

[bob1852]

It's possible that it's done, but the only way to confirm that is with a gravity reading.

With that being said, leaving it sit for a week won't harm it at all.

 

[TucsonTRD]

Let it ride for two weeks before you pop the lid. Patience and cleanliness are the two most important virtues in brewing.

 

[dime1622]

Thanks for the replies! For sanitary purposes, I really didn't want to open it up; even if fermentation were done, I would want it to sit in there for two full weeks before bottling. Being able to let it sit even if the fermentation were stalled is comforting.

 

[Calder]

If the beer temperature is above room temperature, then it is probably still working (or being heated by he floor). If it's in a bucket, they often have leaks, and you may only see airlock activity when it is at the height of it's fermentation activity.

 

[Hatchbrew]

Probably done fermenting, but just needs to settle and clean itself up.

 

[unionrdr]

Yup. Sounds like it's done with initial fermentation to me. It'll settle down & maybe not bubble again as it treks it's way down to FG. Give it 3-5 days to clean up & settle out more after a stable FG.