Stupid question..

[dougler13]

So I made an amber ale and got it fermenting. The thing is I havent noticed alot of activity I could here the airlock bubbling for the first few days but by day 4 it seems to have pretty much stopped and theres a thick layer of yeast at the bottom of the jar.

So my question is how much bubbling is considered normal? At the hieght of activity my airlock would bubble about once every second just kinda go bloop and there was a foamy head on the top of the beer. Does this seem normal? Starting gravity of 47 and using wyeast #1335 british ale II.. Any comments would be useful thanks.

 

[doubleb]

Everyone will tell you to take a gravity reading. That'll tell you if it fermented.

 

[menschmaschine]

You need to take a gravity reading. Was there a krausen? If your gravity is still high and there was no krausen, my first question would be temperature fluctuation?

EDIT: Oops, doubleb beat me to it!

 

[Yooper]

Sounds fine! There really isn't any "normal", since every fermentation is different. I've had some quick fermentations that finished up overnight, and some that plug along for two or three weeks!

A good indication that things are about done is when the krausen falls, and the beer starts to clear. That's when all the stuff starts to fall to the bottom ("trub") and then activity slows. Even after that, though, the yeast are busy cleaning up after themselves, even eating their own waste products.

I like to leave it for at least 10 days or so before I check the sg or rack it. Sometimes it's a lot longer than that, though.

 

[WillPall]

I would say that is pretty common. As anyone on this forum will tell you, airlock activity is no indication that it is or is not fermented. Nevertheless, almost every beer I've brewed so far has completed fermentation in about 2-3 days.

I'm guessing you have a hydrometer since you know your starting gravity. Take a sample and check the final gravity. That should tell you all you need to know.

EDIT: I was also beaten to the punch. Well dougler13, looks like you've got several comments to take into account.

 

[dougler13]

Thanks guys I apreciate it this is my first batch so I was a little nervous. I think I'll wait the full 2 weeks and take a hydro reading.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My last two batches (Hefewezen and Belgian Wheat) had no airlock activity at all but still had a krausen which dropped after a week in the primary. Both turned out fine.

On the other hand, about two months ago I had another Belgian wheat that blew the plastic top off my ale pale. Turned out to be my best batch too. :rockin:

 

[conpewter]

Sounds like it is fermenting just fine. The "head" you saw on top the beer in the carboy is the krausen, and is a normal part of fermentation. As Yooper said, some ferment out fast, some slow; All can benefit from a couple weeks or more in primary.

 

[dougler13]

Yeah you all were right.. The Krausen has all but completely fallen and there is a rather wonderful beer smell coming from the top of the airlock. Looks like its time to bottle next friday!!!