Fermentation head disappeared when I removed FV lid

[malcdodds]

I did my first extract brew at the weekend. All went well, and a few hours after I pitched my yeast (Safale S-04) a head formed.

The book I'm using (Brew Your Own British Real Ale - an excellent read!) suggested removing the FV lid after 24 hours if a large head had formed. Since mine had an inch thick head at the time I did so.

Next morning (today, Monday) I checked on it and the head had disappeared, although I could just about detect some bubbling.

Should I be worried about this ? Its only been fermenting 48 hours, and, so far, the head hasn't started to reform. I do know SO-4 can be quick, but is 36 hours too quick for it to be almost finished? I was wondering about doing a reading but I didn't really want to expose it to any more air unless its likely to be nearly finished.

Should I think about rousing, aerating or pitching another sachet of yeast yet ?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[stitch]

I think you're probably fine. My heads always disappear a couple of days in.

It will likely take at least a couple more days before it's finished. Take a reading then.

What are you brewing?

Rich

[malcdodds]

Thanks for the response! That's reassuring to know.

I'm brewing the Timothy Taylor Landlord from the above-mentioned book. OG was 1046 (a little higher than predicted I suspect because I'm just under 25L in volume.)

I've just measured the gravity and its reading 1017, so a good chunk of the fermentation has taken place!

I'll give it a few days and see ifs go down closer to 1010.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

A very fast initial fermentation followed by a slowdown is characteristic of S-04. I find it takes about 7 days to get to FG.

[pauljmuk]

yep - I've brewed the same recipe (and very nice it is too) and used S04. The heads do die down after the initial "explosion". Sometimes, my beers look like there is nothing going on at all, but daily hyrdro checks assure me they are actually ok and doing their thing.

[malcdodds]

Update: finished fermentation at 1016 (a little higher than I'd hoped). Transferred into cask, and now I just have to wait.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

1.016 doesn't sound like finished to me. And it hasn't even been in the FV a week. My brews have taken 7 days to finish, kegging on the 8th day. And that's pushing it. A lot of people recommend leaving it a few extra days beyond that.

[pauljmuk]

Yep - you should get it down beyond that - leave it 10 days in the FV - I quite often do, never had a problem.

[malcdodds]

Sounds like I was maybe a little hasty in the kegging it. However it had gone 48 hours without change so I thought I was OK.

Could my high final gravity be because I didn't top it up with cold water to the full 25L after the boil? Looks like I might be a couple of litres short of that figure.

On that note, is it OK to simply calibrate the fermenting vessel and simply top up with water in there ? I did try and do it in the boiler since I thought the slow run off into the FV would mix it and aerate it nicely.