Ruined fermentation? Please help!

[Fecho]

Hi everyone, first time poster, first time brewer, first time at pretty much all of this.

I finally made my first batch. It was from a kit that I bought at a local fermentation shop. To be honest, I don't think it's looking too good. I started this brew on April 22nd, 2012 and well Now, today May 26, 2012... it doesn't look like a healthy fermentation:

and

My kit only came with ONE bag of Yeast! I was a little curious about that since my other kit I got came with 3?

Please help! This is my first brew, and even though I didn't expect it to go perfectly, i'm a little bummed that it probably won't even be drinkable! But damn it, if it is ruined, It's time to start brewing again. (Like tomorrow)

 

[GarageDweller]

have you taken a hydrometer reading?

 

[Special Hops]

What makes you think it's not looking good.
Take a HDTV reading and then taste it.

 

[LLBeanJ]

have you taken a hydrometer reading?

+1

It looks pretty normal to me. Since it's been well over a month, it's likely done. A hyrometer reading will let you know for sure if it's finished.

 

[Revvy]

Looks perfectly fine to me. Have you taken a grav reading?

 

[BrewKnurd]

Take a HDTV reading and then taste it.

Autocorrect strikes again!

 

[sweetcell]

Hi everyone, first time poster, first time brewer, first time at pretty much all of this.

[...]

I started this brew on April 22nd, 2012 and well Now, today May 26, 2012... it doesn't look like a healthy fermentation:

it's your first batch - how do you know what a healthy fermentation looks like, if this is the first time you're seeing fermentation?

 

[Dgonza9]

2-3 weeks fermentation, then bottle or keg and give it at least two more.

If you see anything floating on top, you can always siphon below that.

 

[BrewKnurd]

it's your first batch - how do you know what a healthy fermentation looks like, if this is the first time you're seeing fermentation?

Come on, man. Just look at it. It looks so... nasty. it MUST be ruined.





Oh, and on a serious note. OP, it looks fine.

 

[Revvy]

it's your first batch - how do you know what a healthy fermentation looks like, if this is the first time you're seeing fermentation?

THIS!

Fermentation is ugly and stinky and scary looking even when it's perfectly normal.

 

[frankieboy007]

Hi everyone, first time poster, first time brewer, first time at pretty much all of this.

I finally made my first batch. It was from a kit that I bought at a local fermentation shop. To be honest, I don't think it's looking too good. I started this brew on April 22nd, 2012 and well Now, today May 26, 2012... it doesn't look like a healthy fermentation:

and

My kit only came with ONE bag of Yeast! I was a little curious about that since my other kit I got came with 3?

Please help! This is my first brew, and even though I didn't expect it to go perfectly, i'm a little bummed that it probably won't even be drinkable! But damn it, if it is ruined, It's time to start brewing again. (Like tomorrow)

If you've never seen beer after fermentation, it always leaves a ring from the krausen (foam caused from the active fermentation) in whatever vessel you ferment in (plastic or glass, usually). That's the junk that is sticking to the sides of the glass and still floating on top of the fermented beer. If its been over a month in the primary fermenter, its probably done, and ready to be racked to secondary (if you so choose). Or, just rack to your bottling bucket and bottle it or keg it up and let it sit for a couple of weeks, and *voila!!* you'll have beer!! When you DO transfer, be sure to take a gravity reading and give it a little taste test, then you'll know if its ok or not (there won't be any carbonation, so be prepared for a flat taste). Just FYI, its always helpful on the forum to post your recipe, it gives experienced brewers a chance to see what you are brewing and give you a better answer than some of the previous ones you received for your post. Hope this helps!

 

[RmikeVT]

Am I missing something -- did OP post a picture? Why can't I see it? People keep saying everything looks fine, I don't see anything. Sorry to by

To OP -- I did my first AG batch of Hefe (EdWort's) with WLP300, pitched my starter at 70* brought down to 67* in a swamp cooler. Fermentation took off and I have never smelled anything so horrible that wasn't rotting or decaying (sulfur, rotting eggs, sour). After 7 days it was real stinky although the krausen had dropped. By Day 10 the smells were still present but probably do to all the krausen all the way to the top of the carboy. I pulled out a hydrometer sample and it tasted yeasty w/ clove and banana. I kegged & carbed and was drinking by Day 14, my neighbor couldn't stop telling me how good the beer was...it is good although a little dry for a hefe, I think it got down to 1.009ish.

I guess from my experience -- the nastier the fermentation the better the beer -- so far.

 

[Revvy]

He posted 2 pics, basically just the remnants of a fallen krausen with hop gunk on the surface...in other words, your basic normal fermentation mixed with noob nerves.