Is my Beer brewing?

Flying_Fox · Aug 12, 2019

I made up a batch of Woodfordes Wherry the other day and on the Saturday I had a peak and their was a Krausen on top. Had a peak today and there was no signs of action.

Have I ballsed this up?!?

Alex.mc · Aug 12, 2019

Do you mean no Krausen?

Chippy_Tea · Aug 12, 2019

If you keep opening it you do run the risk of ballsing it up when it is more than likely doing fine.

terrym · Aug 12, 2019

After 2 days or so it is unlikely to be finished, although the krausen might have dropped. If you have an airlock fitted and its not bubbling it may be because you have a leak between the FV and the lid and CO2 is bypassing the airlock. It might look OK but it isnt. So if you want to see the airlock bubble, place four strips of cling film over the rim of the FV and replace the lid. You should then see bubbles. Then leave it alone for at least a week irrespective of what you think it may or may not be doing.

Flying_Fox · Aug 12, 2019

terrym said:
If you have an airlock fitted and its not bubbling it may be because you have a leak between the FV and the lid and CO2 is bypassing the airlock. It might look OK but it isnt. So if you want to see the airlock bubble, place four strips of cling film over the rim of the FV and replace the lid.

Well it’s that kit I got from Wilko’s and it had no hole for an Airlock so I’ve just put the lid on and followed the instructions

terrym · Aug 12, 2019

In that case leave it alone until Saturday and take then an SG reading and then report back if you still think there is a problem. And until then keep the lid on.

Flying_Fox · Aug 12, 2019

Alex.mc said:
Do you mean no Krausen?

There was some on Saturday but it’s gone nowz. No signs of anything.

Could it be too cold? Do I need to give it a stir?

Keats · Aug 12, 2019

9 times out of 10 the krausen only lasts a day or two on my beers but the yeast is still doing its job.

What temp is it at? Try to avoid stirring as that will increase the risk of nasties getting in the fv when you open it up.

chrisb8 · Aug 12, 2019

Keats said:
9 times out of 10 the krausen only lasts a day or two on my beers but the yeast is still doing its job.

I agree that in my experience the krausen only lasts in any great amount for a couple of days, however I never open up the fermenter to have a look! I know that it is really hard not to, especially when it's your first brew, but you really should just leave it alone and let it do its thing. Use the time to plan your next brew instead...

Alex.mc · Aug 13, 2019

The best thing to do is pitch the yeast and just tuck it away in the dark for 2 weeks. then you can pretty much guarantee it's done. That's hard though, especially with your first few brews!

I have moved over time to using clear PET plastic fermentors, that are kept in a dark place that I can control the temp in. They have a bottom tap, and this means I can observe them easily by opening up the door(working yeast is an amazing sight!). I can also tap off very small amounts and pipette them onto a refractometer to check fermentation progress. Refactometers give a different reading to hydrometers that need a conversion, but they will still show fermentation progress, and when it's stopped and finished.
None of this is necessary of course, but it's what I enjoy doing and monitoring.

TL.DR.
Leave it 2 weeks in a dark place and it's be done.

PhilBrew · Aug 13, 2019

Hi FF

Flying_Fox said:
Could it be too cold?

... do you remember that discussion about what kit you needed over there (link) ... and how you ended up investing £2.50 of your hard earned on a thermometer? ... Now's the time to get some use out of it athumb..

No need to open up the FV ... just rest the thermometer on the lid and monitor the temps for a few hours (checking before you go to bed and when you get up in the morning will give some indication whether temps are dropping too low overnight, if you're worried about that :?:

) ... if you really want accuracy you can tie/tape the thermometer to the side of the FV, with a bit of bubble wrap/foam/sponge over the bulb at the bottom (that'll give a better indication as to the temp of the liquid inside the FV)

Cheers, PhilB

P.S. This will probably make absolutely no difference whatsoever ... the yeast are in charge now, they're the "experts" at this fermentation lark, they know what they're doing ... but at least you'll have something to do, so you'll feel involved wink...

:small

GerritT · Aug 13, 2019

Buy a few of these, plaster 4 of them on your fv (one on every corner), about the same height, it will give an indication on what's happening temp-wise.

ssashton · Aug 16, 2019

Both fermenting vessels I've seen in Wilko have a hole for a air lock.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-fermenting-bin-lid-25l/p/0022555
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-wide-neck-fermentation-vessel-25l/p/0075885

Are you sure you didn't buy a pressure keg?

I started out brewing a few months ago. I tried 3 different kits. I can't stress enough how much better 'all grain' brewing tastes. Just order some crushed malted barley and a grain sack from The Malt Miller, plus some nice hops and a hop sock. You won't look back.

Also note Brew Dog publish all recipes - https://brewdogrecipes.com/

Flying_Fox · Aug 17, 2019

ssashton said:
Both fermenting vessels I've seen in Wilko have a hole for a air lock.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-fermenting-bin-lid-25l/p/0022555
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-wide-neck-fermentation-vessel-25l/p/0075885

Are you sure you didn't buy a pressure keg?

I started out brewing a few months ago. I tried 3 different kits. I can't stress enough how much better 'all grain' brewing tastes. Just order some crushed malted barley and a grain sack from The Malt Miller, plus some nice hops and a hop sock. You won't look back.

Also note Brew Dog publish all recipes - https://brewdogrecipes.com/

I bought this dude.....

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/woodfordes-real-ale-starter-beer-brewing-kit-20-pints/p/0453206

PhilBrew · Aug 17, 2019

Hi FF

How's this brew doing? Can you see through that FV enough to see has the krausen fully dropped, is the layer of yeast getting more "compacted" at the bottom, is the beer getting darker as the yeast drops out of it (all signs of fermentation coming towards an end)?

Cheers, PhilB

Flying_Fox · Aug 20, 2019

PhilBrew said:
Hi FF

How's this brew doing? Can you see through that FV enough to see has the krausen fully dropped, is the layer of yeast getting more "compacted" at the bottom, is the beer getting darker as the yeast drops out of it (all signs of fermentation coming towards an end)?

Cheers, PhilB

Hello Sir!

Apologies for being a bit MIA. Just checked the Beer and did another OG reading and it says it’s done! I’ve just put some Beer Finings into it so will leave it for a few more days and then Bottling!

Still kinda confused how I tell what’s the ABV of the Beer though? With the Cider it was easy but this is not so easy

Rodcx500z · Aug 20, 2019

Hi ff, put your og reading and fg reading in here and click on update, https://www.brewersfriend.com/abv-calculator/ so say your og was 1050 and fg 1010 your beer would be 5.25% abv

Flying_Fox · Aug 20, 2019

ah......I didn’t take a proper reading. It just said it was ready to make Beer so 1.035/ 1.040 and then it was 1.005 for the fg?

Rodcx500z · Aug 20, 2019

Flying_Fox said:
ah......I didn’t take a proper reading. It just said it was ready to make Beer so 1.035/ 1.040 and then it was 1.005 for the fg?

1040 1005 = 4.59% avb

Is my Beer brewing?

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