Questioning what's happening...

[Horvath586]

It's the end of day 4 in the primary. Haven't seen bubbles in airlock but all the water was pushed to the exit side of it for a couple days. I figured it was just a leak in the fermenter. I pulled the lid off a few minutes ago and it doesn't look like much has happened. Ambient temp is 67 as well as the temp on the fermenter. All has been the same since Sunday. Also it smells like bananas. Fyi this is my first batch....

 

[Horvath586]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1422578081.393377.jpg

 

[sportpak]

Looks like beer. Put the lid back on and reset your airlock. Give it a couple more weeks to finish up and you're good to go. Patience and sanitation are the #1 rules in brewing.

 

[soccerdad]

looks to me like you had kreusen and it fell - as it does

ambient temp 67 could easily give you fruity esters

 

[Horvath586]

Ok good. Thanks guys. I was sure I wouldn't be asking any questions for my first brew... But here I am! Thanks again

 

[Horvath586]

Looks like beer. Put the lid back on and reset your airlock. Give it a couple more weeks to finish up and you're good to go. Patience and sanitation are the #1 rules in brewing.

What do you mean by resetting my airlock?

 

[sportpak]

What do you mean by resetting my airlock?

Just putting it back on cleaned and properly filled.

 

[Horvath586]

Ok I figured but just needed to check. Thanks again

 

[Horvath586]

Is 67 to high for my ambient temp? Unfortunately I don't know what yeast I used other than it was a dry yeast. Beer is a porter.

 

[HBKidJr]

Is 67 to high for my ambient temp? Unfortunately I don't know what yeast I used other than it was a dry yeast. Beer is a porter.

I've got a huge post in here where the common suggestion was temperature. Most likely, 67 is going to be pretty warm for your yeast. The beer inside can be anywhere from 10-15 degrees warmer than ambient while fermenting. So what says 67 can actually be 80 degrees. Next brew, put the bucket in a tub of water and occasionally add ice or cold water to it to keep the temperature of the water low 60s. As far as this one goes, sit back, drink a homebrew, wait for a few weeks and bottle/keg. Condition for a few more weeks and I bet it'll be great.

 

[bacgabe]

Is 67 to high for my ambient temp? Unfortunately I don't know what yeast I used other than it was a dry yeast. Beer is a porter.

If you used a kit, it should indicate the type of dry yeast. The yeast packet should show the ideal fermentation temp range, but like was said, fermentation temps are usually quite a bit higher than ambient.

 

[Horvath586]

I have a thermometer next to the fermenter and the fermenter has its own thermometer. Both read the same these first 4 days. Why would that be?

 

[brewkinger]

The thermometer on the fermenter is telling you the temp on the outside edge of the beer which is pretty much the same temperature that the thermometer next to it.

Both of which are the ambient temperature of the room.

The internal temp of the beer (at the middle) of the fermenter can be as much as 10 degrees hotter in the center.

 

[Horvath586]

I'm thinking I'll ferment my next batch in the basement which holds a temp around 58-60. If I keep it off of the floor will that work well? It's pretty cool here in Michigan right now so I would bet the floor is around 50 degrees.