What should airlock look like during fermentation?

[bathman]

First time brewer. It's been 24 hours and I have the ale fermenting at 65 degrees in a kegerator but I'm not sure what the bubbling in the airlock should look like. I included a picture, but it just looks like condensation to me, not bubbles. Is fermentation not occurring of is it too soon to tell?
Cheers,
Bathman

 

[Tommyb52]

It looks like you have no water in the airlock. If so, fill it up to the line on the airlock with a little water that was boiled and cooled to prevent any chance of infection to the wort. If there is water in it ,hopefully you didn't pitch your yeast at a temperature too high(close to 90 degrees will kill yeast).If after a few days,give the fermenter a GOOD swirl(not shake).Good luck brewing!

 

[RM-MN]

I have 3 bucket fermenters. One of them always bubbles when the beer is fermenting, one never bubbles, and the third has a mind of its own and bubbles when it feels like it. Whether your airlock bubbles or not is not important. The gas given off in fermentation can escape around the lid and never move the airlock. What matters is that the gravity changes as sugars are converted to alochol. You use your hydrometer to tell that.

Now, with all that said, your yeast are probably still building up their population and not yet giving off any gas. Many of my batches don't really get started for 30 to 36 hours if I keep the temperature where it should be. Give yours another day and if it isn't bubbling, carefully open the lid to see if there is krausen or evidence of krausen like a brown bubbly ring around the bucket above the level of the beer.

 

[tooldudetool]

As Tommy said, if there is no liquid in the airlock, you will see nothing. The purpose of the airlock is to be a one way vent that will let the co2 out and not let any critters (or fruit flies!) back in. No liquid, no bubbles. You can use vodka or starsan instead of boiled and cooled water if you'd like.

 

[Dolomieu]

Man you really jammed that thing in there. you know it doesnt have to go that far in.... right??? Also like mentioned above you need to add vodka or sanitized water to the line.

 

[bathman]

Thanks guys! This forum is awesome! Brewing this beer for my friend who is running a marathon

 

[elatowski]

man you really jammed that thing in there. You know it doesnt have to go that far in.... Right???

twss

 

[Ridire]

twss

Nice!

 

[NTXBrauer]

Here is one of mine.

 

[Hello]

Hopefully you added the water by now. Right?

 

[DanH]

twss

I thought that immediately as well.

 

[bathman]

Added vodka to the airlock and pulled it out a bit and there are bubbles! LET THERE BE FERMENTATION!

 

[Tommyb52]

Good brewing,this forum is really good and has helped me out too.

 

[bathman]

It's only been 8 days but the bubbling has stopped. Do I have a problem here?

 

[NTXBrauer]

It's only been 8 days but the bubbling has stopped. Do I have a problem here?

Take a gravity reading to see how close you are to your target FG. Fermentation may be complete.

 

[NewWestBrewer]

It's only been 8 days but the bubbling has stopped. Do I have a problem here?

Most fermentation for low to mid OG beers are done bubbling by 4-5 days. Bigger beers can take a little longer. Take a reading and see where you are at but you are most likely fine.