Ruined fermentation? Please help!

[Fecho]

Hi everyone! first time posting, first time brewing. Pretty much new at everything here.

I got a brew that I started on April 22nd, 2012.

I thought I went through all the necessary sanitation steps. I followed this homebrew kit that came with only ONE pack of yeast... I'm not sure if it was supposed to come with 2? This other kit i got came with 3, so I don't know. Anyway, here are some photos of the brew's fermentation today, May 26, 2012:

and

Is this ruined? it's been just about a month. Not much activity going on. The spout on the top stopped bubbling, but still has some water in there. I saw a few fermentation photos and man those jugs got some really active fermentation going on.

Any tips? Is this salvageable? Should I take a gravity reading and see where it is?

 

[RandomBeerGuy]

Your brew looks normal just like any other brew. Take a reading because a month is more than enough time to complete ferm. I would say bottle/keg it then enjoy it. The floaties are just yeast cells hanging out.

 

[IffyG]

It looks like you made beer. My guess is you missed the active fermentation and all of kreusen has fallen. Most of the visual 'activity' happens in the first few days, then it just sits there like you see now.

 

[Rugrad02]

I agree with the previous posters. This looks like a stout ready to be bottled/kegged. Fermentation is never a pretty sight and each yeast, dry or liquid, will have it's own characteristics. Most yeasts will leave a thick ring of Krausen/hop material etc., at the level of your wort, around the inside of your Carboy. Some yeasts will leave bits Krausen floating on the top, where others will leave the beer looking nice and clear. These particles you're seeing will be left behind when you rack into your bottling bucket or your keg. Congrats, you made beer!!!!

 

[Fecho]

awesome! thanks guys. I'm bottling these bad boys now.

 

[bbarnumboy]

Did you take a Hydro reading as recommended? Where was it at and what was your original gravity. How did your reading hold up to the projected final gravity?