New and excited.

[Bald Head Brewery]

Hi all,

New to this brewing caper, first brew was successful but I have a question about non fermenting beer.

If my brew doesn't start to ferment can I rack it into another fermenter to try and activate the yeast?

Regards

Baldy

 

[mtb]

Need some details there mate. Recipe? Extract or all grain? Which yeast? What temp did you pitch it at?

 

[earle]

What makes you think it's not fermenting?

 

[bradsbrew]

What makes you think it's not fermenting?

I think there may be a choked kitten in the airlock.

 

[Bald Head Brewery]

Sorry just a question in general, no issue as yet with second brew, I was just asked by a mate who has just started as well.

 

[mtb]

It's not a general question, there are many factors. Hence the followup questions above

 

[earle]

No worries. A lot of newbs think their brew is not fermenting because they can't see any bubbles in their airlock. This is not a good indicator of fermentation hence the question (and also the subsequent kitten reference).

A hydrometer reading is a much better indication of fermentation progress or stalling. Krausen formation and condensation can also be indicators of fermentatio.

If you're friend is convinced that his brew is not fermenting a better solution is a very gentle swirl to rouse the yeast.

 

[Schikitar]

Yep, earle is spot on here, I recently had two side by side identical brews in my fridge using different yeast (WL041 & WL051). One bubbled for 8 days pretty consistently, the other stopped after two days and didn't seem to be active. I was actually worried about that one because the yeast was out of date and I had to build a stepped starter for my first time ever. Two weeks later, the one that stopped gurgling after a couple days attenuated 2 points lower than expected and the late bubbler one point lower. So, don't take airlock activity to mean anything, hydrometer readings speak more truth..

 

[bradsbrew]

Sorry just a question in general, no issue as yet with second brew, I was just asked by a mate who has just started as well.

Welcome aboard Baldy. The kitten joke comes up most times a stalled ferment is mentioned by a newer member.

I refer to post 5 in this thread. Classic AHB.
https://aussiehomebrewer.com/threads/air-lock-activity-speed.29983/#post-415881

 

[Bald Head Brewery]

I understand that getting the same question would be annoying, just like toddlers asking why all the body time.

 

[good4whatAlesU]

^bloody?

my first fermenter had an air leak and wouldn't bubble unless the lid was sealed on with duct tape. Nowadays I just use a cheap big W SS pot and watch the action through the glass lid, no airlocks' required. Works a treat and a hell of a lot cheap than a fancy custom ss brewing fermenter..

 

[koshari]

^bloody?

my first fermenter had an air leak and wouldn't bubble unless the lid was sealed on with duct tape. Nowadays I just use a cheap big W SS pot and watch the action through the glass lid, no airlocks' required. Works a treat and a hell of a lot cheap than a fancy custom ss brewing fermenter..

may i ask how do you decant the beer out after its fermented,? have you put a tap on the side?
i do agree about the requirement for an airlock being trivial, i went through the batemans brewery in lincolnshire UK and they primary in big 5000l open tanks.

 

[good4whatAlesU]

hi Koshari
The beer can be siphoned out from the top using a length of hose (that's what I do), or alternatively a tap can be installed on the side at relatively low cost.

 

[Garfield]

That's gold mate! How big is that pot?

 

[good4whatAlesU]

19L at Big W for $20

perfect for what I do (12L ferments) to fill 10L kegs.