Sanke Fermentation Anxiety

[Phunhog]

I am currently into the first 48 hours of fermentation in a Sanke...and it is killing me! I have been brewing long enough that I know no airlock activity does not mean no fermentation. I have always used clear carboys or Better Bottles so at least I can see if I have activity. I also know that the only real way to check fermentation is with a hydro reading. So without any obvious signs of fermentation when should I get a gravity reading? 48 hours? 72 hours? I don't want to wait a week to find out that fermentation never took off.

 

[RiverCityBrewer]

I would take one now...

 

[Phunhog]

Well I have noticed that the temp of my water bath is two degrees above my set temp of 66 degrees. The ambient temp is low 60's so I think fermentation must be happening to get any increase in temperature. I think I will let it ride another 36 hours besides I don't have any other appropriate yeast and the LHBS doesn't open until Tuesday.

 

[Zamial]

What are you useing for an "airlock holder" a bung or carboy cap? The carboy caps can leak from everywhere and a bung, unless you cut it down will never get a solid seal, IMO, due to the "slots" for the spear lock...I cut a #10 bung about 1/3 of the way from the top and that allowed it to sink past the top lip and onto the smaller keg spear lip under it...

 

[Phunhog]

I have one of those cool tri clamp covers from Brewers Hardware. I put an airlock in the port for the blowoff tube but it doesn't fit that tight. I am hoping that I am just getting some leakage around it. My target fermentation temp is 68. I use a water bath with two aquarium heaters set to 66. Last check the temp was 68 so I am crossing my fingers.....

 

[BigBadMikey]

I have the same setup as you. I found that I had leakage from the racking cane area. I tightened it up and also put a hose clamp on the blowoff tube. Before that, I had minimal bubbling. All good now...

 

[Revvy]

SO tell me, if you've been brewing for awhile, why the heck do you think anything could be going wrong? Seriously, have the yeast ever let you down (and I don't mean when you THOUGHT the yeast let you down 'cause you were a dumb noob who didn't know anything.) I mean have you ever not have a beer ferment?

I haven't ever had a beer not do it's thing, it's not like 30 years ago when yeast was crap, we're talking the 21st century and modern brewing yeast. They WANT to make beer for you, it's in their dna....Is there any reason beyond simply not being able to see, and pure silliness for you to worry?

I hope you realize, I'm trying to humiliate you into manning up, showing some stones, and actually TRUSTING the yeasties instead of being a pu@@y noob.

 

[Phunhog]

Revvy,
You are exactly right! It IS pure silliness for me to worry....and I do tell myself this repeatedly. The yeast have NEVER let me down before. I think it all goes back to the love, time, and skill that we all try to put into brewing. We fret over water chemistry, alpha acid content, mash temperature variance, etc....It just seems natural to carry that over into the fermentation side of brewing. Like I said...you are right that you just have to "trust the yeast".....they know what to do.

 

[samc]

If it's killing you, pop the tri clover off and stick your nose in. CO2 will tell you the story.

 

[Phunhog]

Of course Revvy was right! I took a hydro today. 1.020 after 3.5 days.....

 

[Revvy]

Of course Revvy was right! I took a hydro today. 1.020 after 3.5 days.....

It's not me that's right...it's the yeast. They don't let us down....I was just reminding you of that fact.