Bubbles...

[wbosher]

I know what you're all thinking "another thread about bloody airlock bubbles..." Kind of, but no.

I have a bad seal, so the airlock is non-functional as far as bubbles go . I don't want to keep dumping the gravity tester into the brew every day to see if the fermentaion has finished. Is there a visual way that I can use to see if it is at least close?

There are a few bubbles on the top of the brew so I assume that it is still fermenting and I should just leave it alone for now? When will be a good time to do a FG, when the bubbles are gone?

[Stomach]

I know what you're all thinking "another thread about bloody airlock bubbles..." Kind of, but no.

I have a bad seal, so the airlock is non-functional as far as bubbles go . I don't want to keep dumping the gravity tester into the brew every day to see if the fermentaion has finished. Is there a visual way that I can use to see if it is at least close?

There are a few bubbles on the top of the brew so I assume that it is still fermenting and I should just leave it alone for now? When will be a good time to do a FG, when the bubbles are gone?

Hi Mate

Never use your airlock to assume fermentation is complete, your hydrometer will tell you that with 3 readings of the same gravity over 3 days.

Time is a great indicator, 2 weeks minimum in the FV, starting to test from day 12 onwards or thereabouts!

Hope that helps!

Cheers

[wbosher]

12 days? The instructions say 5-7, it's now been 5.

If I've learned anything reading on the forum is not to use the airlock to tell if fermention is complete (millions of posts about that ), that's why I never bothered replacing the seal in the FV.

12 days, wow. I guess I'm just too impatient.

[Monkeybrew]

12 days? The instructions say 5-7, it's now been 5.

If I've learned anything reading on the forum is not to use the airlock to tell if fermention is complete (millions of posts about that ), that's why I never bothered replacing the seal in the FV.

12 days, wow. I guess I'm just too impatient.

You aren't impatient, kit instructions are just very optimistic

[Stomach]

12 days? The instructions say 5-7, it's now been 5.

If I've learned anything reading on the forum is not to use the airlock to tell if fermention is complete (millions of posts about that ), that's why I never bothered replacing the seal in the FV.

12 days, wow. I guess I'm just too impatient.

You aren't impatient, kit instructions are just very optimistic

+ 1 to that!

[Stomach]

12 days? The instructions say 5-7, it's now been 5.

If I've learned anything reading on the forum is not to use the airlock to tell if fermention is complete (millions of posts about that ), that's why I never bothered replacing the seal in the FV.

12 days, wow. I guess I'm just too impatient.

The air lock is to keep nasties out out. I use airlocks to keep cats, children and flies out of my FV's!

[Geezah]

My standard format is to leave the brew for 12 days then drop the hydrometer in and leave it in there until i'm happy its done and I have free time to keg/bottle.. 14-18 days

[wbosher]

It's been 7 days now, and although I should probably wait a little longer (I'm an impatient bugger), I took a FG reading and it said 1.008, or close to it. This is exactly what the instruction said. So if it is the same tomorrow I should be good to bottle...like I said, I'm an impatient bugger

The thing I'm worried about is that the brew is VERY cloudy still. I'm guessing that this is probably normal but if someone could put my mind at ease that would be appreciated.

I know I should probably wait another week, but as this is my first brew I really just want to get in into bottles and start another one. Once I get a cycle going I will probably be a little more patient.

[cellone]

You better start brewing two at a time.

[wbosher]

Yeah I know I'll get to that one day.

Is the cloudy appearance normal?

[barney]

The cloudy look of the beer has nothing to do with the gravity, a beer can be finished and still be quite cloudy, depending on the yeast strain. This is I suspect what you have on your hands.

Some beers can literally take weeks to clear the suspended yeast and some beers cant clear themselves without the addition of fining's to help lever the process along.

I would leave it another few days, Sorry.

There is more to fermentation than just trying to get a clear brew or hit a pre determined gravity. The yeast needs to clean up after itself and try to get rid of the annoying fermentation by-products created during the process. If you can leave it another three or four days your beer will be better for it.

Get yourself another bucket and beer kit, it will help take your mind off this one.

[wbosher]

Oh ok.

I don't have time to do much during the week, so if I left it until next weekend (it's Saturday in NZ so another 7 days) is that too long? I hear if you leave it too long it can ruin the brew.

[Geezah]

My standard format is to leave the brew for 12 days then drop the hydrometer in and leave it in there until i'm happy its done and I have free time to keg/bottle.. 14-18 days

[wbosher]

Sweet, I'll leave it until next weekend.

I'm also going to buy the Coopers kit. Saw it on Craigtube, doesn't have an air lock but it's see-through so you can see whats going on. No airlock means no messing around worrying about those damn bubbles.

[Geezah]

Just buy a fermenting bucket & lid