HELP! 5 days in fermenter & no more bubbling after day 4

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 4:38 pm

I am doing my first ever homebrew. I got a coopers kit from Kmart and used the Coopers lager that came with it.
Followed the recipe and instructions in the box exactly.

After 24hrs of starting the fermenter was happily bubbling away. The temp was constant at 22degs, then after 4 days I noticed it has dropped slightly to 20degs and stayed there.
About the 3rd day, the water from the airlock blew out onto the top of the fermenter and I found it like that when i got home. Wasn't sure if I could do anything, so I relaced the water in the airlock. After 24 hrs, it fermented since.

My question is, has my brew been ruined (maybe coz the air got into the top), or is it normal for it to stop bubbling after 4 days.

FYI, I am up to day 5 now.

Thanks guys,
Oscar.

NTRabbit · Post by **NTRabbit** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 5:09 pm

Some brews ferment faster than others, so yes it is possible that the yeast has finished. I highly doubt that the water blowing out of the airlock at that stage has caused any damage at all, I had a stout that blew foam through the airlock for two straight days without causing infection problems.

What you really need as a beginner is a hydrometer - take a specific gravity reading before you pitch the yeast, and then take one when its finished to get an ABV reading. If the airlock has stopped bubbling, take a pair of measurements 24 hours apart - if they are identical, and in the area of where the brew should finish at (gives you an idea on the label) then its bottling time.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 5:21 pm

OK thanks NTRabbit.
I did get a hydrometer @ with the kit but didn't see the point of getting a SG reading at the start (maybe coz I was too impatient).
I will get 2 SG's 24hrs apart & see what happens.

A mate had the same thing as you with a stout brew & said it tasted fine.

Thanks again.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 5:45 pm

Another qn:
How deep should he test sample for a SG reading be. I used a plastic cup and half filled with the brew (say 2 inches, or 5cm deep).
From the hydrometer instructions, it should float freely. I couldn't get a reading so I assume I need at least 4 or 5 inches (100-125mm) deep of brew??

AM I SUPPOSED TO BE POURING THE TEST BREW MIX INTO THE PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT THE HYRDOMETER WAS PACGED IN?

Boozer · Post by **Boozer** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 5:53 pm

AM I SUPPOSED TO BE POURING THE TEST BREW MIX INTO THE PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT THE HYRDOMETER WAS PACGED IN?

No mate, go buy yourself a hydrometer jar. They're dirt cheap by the way...

You need to have at least 5mm clearance all around your hydrometer to enable an accurate reading to be obtained.

didn't see the point of getting a SG reading at the start

You need to do this if you want to know what % alc you have later down the track.

NTRabbit · Post by **NTRabbit** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 5:53 pm

Oscar wrote:
AM I SUPPOSED TO BE POURING THE TEST BREW MIX INTO THE PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT THE HYRDOMETER WAS PACGED IN?

Thats what I used until I was able to get a much stronger and more stable plastic test tube. You only need to add wort until the hydrometer is no longer touching the bottom.

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 5:53 pm

Yes Oscar, the plastic sleeve is for filling with brew and putting in your hydrometer. It enables enough brew to float the hydrometer, without having to waste too much.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Friday Apr 14, 2006 6:03 pm

Thanks guys.
I might have to RTFM.
I floated it and the liquid level was sitting on 12 something. The Coopers hydrometer appears to tell me that the readings for beer go from 0 to 40.
Mine was 12.
I gues if I test it 24hrs later & it is the same, I will bottle it.

:0)

As I am going away tomorrow lunchtime fro 2 days, I might take a risk & bottle it before I go.
I'm guessing that coz there's been now airlock bubbling for 48 hrs that the fermentation has finished.

Iron-Haggis · Post by **Iron-Haggis** » Saturday Apr 15, 2006 1:08 pm

Just concentrate on the numbers, don't worry about the stuff that says where beer should be. The lowest I've ever had a brew go down to was 1006.

Post by **Oliver** » Saturday Apr 15, 2006 1:12 pm

Oscar,

Leaving the brew for two days in the fermenter will not harm it in the least.

On the other hand, if you bottle too early, be prepared for disaster, either in the form of overcarbonated beer (best case), beer that froths out of the bottles as soon as you open and you can't pour (bad case) or exploding bottles (worst case).

Cheers,

Oliver

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Saturday Apr 15, 2006 2:45 pm

I'm with Oliver leave and bottle when you get back after taking readings.

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Sunday Apr 16, 2006 8:30 pm

The SG seemed to settle @ 1011.

Into the PET bottles now.