To cold?

[Pike]

I started fermentation my Amber Ale on 3/19/08 and it has been two days since. I put my primary 5 gal. bucket in my cellar where it is right around 60 degrees. The brew was doing fine for the first 24 hr. My lock was bubbling, I took it's Temp. a couple times in that first 24 hrs. (With Sterile thermometer.) and it stayed at around 70 degrees. But today I have found that it has stopped bubbling and when I looked at it I found no foam. When I checked the temp I found it has fallen to 60 degrees.
Have I ruined it by putting it in too low of a temp. environment? I have since taken it up stairs in my house where the temp is 70 degrees. Will it start to ferment again?

 

[bradsul]

60F is definitely on the low side but it should still be fermenting, just more slowly. The airlock isn't a good gauge of fermentation progress however, the only way to know is by taking a hydrometer reading.

Keep it at 70F for another week and then take a reading and see how it's doing. I bet it's just fine.

 

[Pike]

Ok, will do. Thanks Brad

 

[Arneba28]

that initial reading of 70 was probably slight exothermic reaction that the container was keeping in(fermentation produces heat) fermentation slowed a bit and stopped producing so much heat so it equalized with the temp in the basement is my guess. Most ale yeasts have a working flocculation range of 65-75. you need to keep it upstairs, your basement is too cold. you didnt hurt it but it will taste more like an ale and ferment quicker upstairs

 

[Pike]

Yes, agreed. I was thinking the fermentation would add to much heat through the first few days fermentation so I opted for the cellar. But I will keep it upstairs from now on. It does seem to be starting to bubble again through my lock, so I think I'm good to go. Thanks