Fermentation of my first AG seems slow

[spencerwood]

Hi,

I made my first AG brew this weekend. I've been reading and posting a few things on this forum and get the impression that after even just 24 hours there is visible activity in the fermentation bin. After 48 hours, mine doesn't seem to have done a great deal I have to say. Its a bit "scummy" round the side on about a quarter but not a lot else - nothing like the big frothy heads I've seen in some of the pictures posted.

I did everything on the packet. I'm making Jims stock beer following his tutorial on the main site. Sames yeast, same rehydration method and everything and there was a bit ofa froth going on in the jug initially before pitching. But two days later, not a lot seems to have happened. Should I be a bit worried? Given there is some scum signs, perhaps that is a good sign and should get going eventually? Should I be looking to add more yeast? Perhaps all the fermenting action is going on at the bottom for this type of yeast?

Any suggestions would be grand

Thanks


Spencer

[Fuse]

would be worth getting some out and dropping a hydrometer in and see what you get compared to when you started. It sounds like something may have happened, do you get a smell of CO2 in the bin when you open it? (i.e. a sharp feeling in your nose). Ive had beers when id though nothing had happened but had actually just gone mad overnight and had calmed down again.

[mysterio]

The dried yeasts tend to tear through the beer in a matter of a day or two. After they're done they'll leave the surface of the beer exposed and some yeasty residue on the side of the fermenter. As the previous poster said, drop a hydro in and have a taste.

[Eric]

Yes, it would be strange in these temperatures to have not started. I'm just as puzzled but as said, hydrometer readings would confirm what has been.

[spencerwood]

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestions. I went to do the reading and when i looked at it, there is some evidence of activity so i though rather than risk contaminating it, I'd just leave it be. There is some scum on the side but nothing substantial to suggest it went crazy without me noticing. Some of the videos on youtube seem to suggest that the lid can be blown off and for it to rise up to bubble right over the top.

If it has started, it is likely to finish? What I mean is, if there is going to be a problem, is it usually not starting at all, rather than starting but then giving up early?

The temperature is constant at 20 degrees and so I think I've done everything I can. I was just expecting more of a reaction I suppose.


Thanks

Spencer

[Eric]

Hi Spencer,

I don't think it's going to go wild now, 20C is ideal. Leave it alone for another day but there's something not right.
Eric.

[spencerwood]

Hi,

I have an update on my brew.

I took a reading of it last night and it was down to roughly 1.010 from 1.039. The target according to beer engine is 1.007 to give me about 4.2%. So, it looks like there has been some activity.

It started fermenting Sunday night around 10pm and I took the reading at about 10pm last night so thats 72 hours. Is it likely to drop the extra couple of points?

I've read that it should be in the primary for around 10 days but if I take a reading tomorrow and it hasn't changed should I call it a day and go to the next step?

The next step... What is that? Well, I ultimately intend to stick it in a barrel rather than bottles. Should I bother with a secondary or just stick it straight in the barrel and mature it for a couple of weeks before drinking?

It seemed rather cloudy in the hydrometer tube last night. It is colour 28 according to beer engine so perhaps I shouldn't expect to see straight through it, but regardless of whether or not it has stopped fermenting, should I give it the full 10 days to hopefully clean up a bit?


Sorry for all the questions - its my first brew and I just really want it to turn out ok.



Many thanks



Spencer

[mysterio]

I doubt it will go much lower than 1.010 unless there is simple sugar in it, thats a typical FG for a beer of that gravity, it may drop an extra point.

What yeast did you use ? Should clear up in a few days.

[spencerwood]

I used Gervin yeast. I pretty much followed Jim stock recipe from the All grain tutorial on this site. Except I used 3Kg Pale and 500g crystal as that suited the packets from the shop better. I also used beer engine to work out to add 300g normal kitchen sugar to raise the alcohol percentage from about 3.7 to 4.2 which is where I wanted it to be.

Second thoughts, I wonder if that yeast will work on regular tate and lyle. A reading of 1.010 for the initial gravity is about 3.7% which is where it could have been without the additional sugar?

Thanks



Spencer

[Fuse]

5 days is not a long time in the world of fermenting at home (breweries can do it in <48 hours) - ideally you want to have 3 consecutive readings on your hydrometer, done on a daily basis - what i do practically is open it have a sniff and put the lid back on if the FV lid hasnt dome'd up over a few days go to stage 2. 1.010 seems like a good reading to me should have gotten most of the sugar fermented.

The longer you leave it the more yeast etc will drop out of solution (well up to a point) so it should get a little clearer. As to whether you put it into a secondary - that one really is up to you, generally i go into a secondary after 7+ days (has been as little as 5 and as much as 14). But to answer the Question, yes you could put it into the barrel and leave it to condition - the choice is yours.

As for the tate and lyle sugar, its actually a mixture of different sugars - mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose. The lactose is a more complex sugar and is glucose and galactose joined together, sucrose is glucose and fructose joined. The yeast needs to be able to break these down and then use them as energy - so yes it will work fine it just takes it a little bit longer. Personally i only use brewers sugar (glucose powder) as its a more readily useable for for the yeast.

[spencerwood]

Hi,

Thanks for your input.

I'm thinking I'll take a reading tonight, if its not changed a lot then maybe test again on Saturday and there's still no change then go to secondary for another week and then barrel after that. Although, depending on how clear it looks when I test, I might be tempted to go straight to the barrel and use Jims sugar and gelatine method to do the clearing that the secondary would have done.


Cheers



Spencer