No Bubbling

[Schiraboy]

Hi, This is my first brew i've ever done. I'm using a Barons Beer Kit (Canadian Golden Ale), and I'm not sure if i should be concerned about something that's going on.
I mixed everything and let it sit in the primary fermenter for a little over 3 days until the gravity was about 1.018 (In the instructions, it says wait until it's 1.020 or less). Then i moved it into the carboy (about 24 hours ago), put the bung in, and filled the airlock up half way with water. It's not bubbling yet though. Is it supposed to be bubbling by now (24 hours later)? Or does it just take a while???
If the bubbling should have started by now, what can i do about it?

Thanks!

 

[rclemmett]

Hi, This is my first brew i've ever done. I'm using a Barons Beer Kit (Canadian Golden Ale), and I'm not sure if i should be concerned about something that's going on.
I mixed everything and let it sit in the primary fermenter for a little over 3 days until the gravity was about 1.018 (In the instructions, it says wait until it's 1.020 or less). Then i moved it into the carboy (about 24 hours ago), put the bung in, and filled the airlock up half way with water. It's not bubbling yet though. Is it supposed to be bubbling by now (24 hours later)? Or does it just take a while???
If the bubbling should have started by now, what can i do about it?

Thanks!

No.

What were the ingredients and what is the gravity sitting on now?

 

[fuddnuddler]

No.

What were the ingredients and what is the gravity sitting on now?

I'm a veteran (?!) of three kit brews and my airlock has never bubbled in any...but all have turned out fine.
Have been told to forget the airlock and if there is krausen; condensation on the lid; and sediment in the bottom, it's all cool -supported by falling gravity readings of course.
Cheers

 

[Pennywise]

Airlock ctivity means absolutly nothing, you may have a slight leak around the lid of the fermenter (which is nothing to worry about). As above, what's the gravity at now and what was it before you pitched the yeast? Is there krausen on the beer (foamy stuff on top)?

 

[raven19]

Relax and have a home brew. It shall be fine.

It may take a while to take off again, and in addition there probably is not much fermentation left to go if its down to 1018 already.

If proper Sanitation practices were used you shall be fine! :icon_cheers:

 

[Schiraboy]

Yes, there is krausen (foamy suds on top), along with sediment in the bottom.
This is definitely a rookie question, but i don't know how i guess... sensitive everything is when it comes to taking the top (the bung) off while it's fermenting?? i know that i'd have to in order to check the gravity, but is it risky to take the bung out to do stuff like that?
Also, i did not have a hydrometer right at the start (kind of too anxious to get started right... stupid on my behalf), so i didn't check the original gravity. It says though, that the orginal gravity should be 1.046-1.052, then after 3 days when transfering from primary into carboy it should be at 1.020 or less, then the final gravity (about 14 days later) should be 1.009-1.016. Does that sound about right?

 

[mwd]

You will need a sanitized siphon to get a sample for the hydrometer reading. Removing the bung for a few minutes should not be a problem as it is only a small opening.

I would just wait and leave it well alone until it looks like it is well and truely finished. ie the foam has gone and the beer is clearing from the top down before taking the hydrometer reading.

The more times you open the carboy up the more chance of getting it infected IMO.

You are going to have to siphon out of the carboy to bottles or keg later on anyway.

1.009 to 1.016 sounds about the right range for FGs

 

[manticle]

I take all my samples from the tap. Siphon might be a nice bit of equipmnet but it's not an absolute necessity.

If you do take a sample from the tap, discard/taste the first bit then fill the vessel to the top. Spin the hydrometer.

 

[rackemup]

The chemical equation for the conversion of glucose to ethanol requires CO2 to be produced - C6H12O6 (aq) --> 2C2H5OH (aq) + 2CO2 (g) so if your gravity is dropping there must be fermentation and thus carbon dioxide will be made as well. You must have an air leak somewhere but if its only small then chances of bacteria making their way in is minimal so if you dont mind an airlock that doesn't bubble then you should be fine.

 

[Maple]

I take all my samples from the tap. Siphon might be a nice bit of equipmnet but it's not an absolute necessity.

If you do take a sample from the tap, discard/taste the first bit then fill the vessel to the top. Spin the hydrometer.

It could be that he has racked into a carboy without a tap (i have several glass ones without a tap) so he may need to take the sample with a syphon

 

[manticle]

Good point.

 

[Schiraboy]

yea, i'm using a glass fermenter, so therefore no tap. But i guess i'll leave it for a while and see if things go well within these 14 days.
How do you know (visually) if it's ready? Other than checking the gravity, can you usually see if the beer is close to ready for bottling? (Is the foam on top all gone and is there no more sediment)???

 

[Pennywise]

The krausen will have dropped out, but you may still have some sdiment (not sure on that one as I don't rack). Also the beer will become alot clearer. But as always, check with hydrometer to be 100% sure.

 

[mwd]

dead easy in a glass carboy no foam and clearing beer from top down as you will see in a week or two.

 

[Schiraboy]

Just checked my gravity, and it's sitting at about 1.015
So it's gone down a little bit. Then i just replaced what i took out with water... that's good, right?

 

[Galamus]

I wouldn't bother replacing with water, will just have a tiny little bit less beer. SG going down is a good sign, wait until its stable for 3 days before bottling to avoid explosions.

BTW Hi all! Not an amateur brewer, but new to AHB.

 

[rclemmett]

Just checked my gravity, and it's sitting at about 1.015
So it's gone down a little bit. Then i just replaced what i took out with water... that's good, right?

No... That is a terrible idea, you are risking introducing bacteria in the water.

 

[jdsaint]

Just checked my gravity, and it's sitting at about 1.015
So it's gone down a little bit. Then i just replaced what i took out with water... that's good, right?

what i do is when i brew I add 200mls for testing gravity, but then again sometimes I dont fill to 23 litres
but dont worry bout adding water again

 

[manticle]

Just checked my gravity, and it's sitting at about 1.015
So it's gone down a little bit. Then i just replaced what i took out with water... that's good, right?

All you're doing is diluting your beer. As mentioned there is a risk (probably not worth panicking over but a risk nonetheless) of introducing nasties to the brew. When you brew x number of litres, you just need to be aware that there will be some loss due to sample taking, etc. No big thing.

I wouldn't do that again. Anyway 1015 is not too far away from FG. Not long to go.

 

[cdbrown]

I wouldn't add water to cover the sample, it's not worth the risk of introducing infection. Just take a sample, measure the gravity and then enjoy the taste of it.

Glass carboys are a great way to see fermentation happening, but I'd rather a plastic fermenter with a tap in order to get gravity readings without going the syphon route.