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Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Monday Sep 15, 2008 7:58 pm
by Pom
Ive got a brew down at the moment and it doesn't seem to be doing much. Wanted to open the lid of the fermenter to check on it make sure it is not infected or anything. Is opening the lid more likly to do it harm anyway?

Re: Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Monday Sep 15, 2008 8:38 pm
by warra48
And just why do you want to open the fermenter lid?
What are you planning to do once it's open?

Don't do it, leave well enough alone.
The yeasties will do their bit if you leave them in peace. You eat your dinner in a rather more relaxed fashion than if I was to stand over it and stare you down.

Relax, give it time. If you really want to look at your brew in the fermenter, don't use the lid and airlock on your next brew, but cover it with gladwrap instead, and use the sealing ring from the lid as a rubber band to hold it all in place.

If you wish for a better answer, let us know what ingredients you have in your brew, which yeast you used, and the temperature you have it at.

Re: Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Tuesday Sep 16, 2008 5:50 pm
by Pom
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
You do make me laugh warra. I didn't really want to open it. Im just a bit concerned somthings not right. it doesn't seem to be doing a great deal of bubbling. Its been down 8 days. Its no flash brew,
just
Coppers Canadian Blonde
Coppers Brew enhancer #2
Saaz hops 15g 20mins
10g steeped 2mins
Saflager yeast pitch at 20c
23l
Kept at 10-12c
I know its probably completly the wronge hops for the kit but Im only a newbie and A little experimentation is good for the soul.

Cheers for the help
Rob

Re: Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Tuesday Sep 16, 2008 8:42 pm
by Chris
The sole what? :)

What's wrong with the saaz anyway? Sounds like a good choice to me.

And don't open the fermenter!

Re: Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Wednesday Sep 17, 2008 6:34 am
by warra48
All sounds good to me.

Saflager is a good yeast, and at 10 to 12ºC it will take 2 to 3 weeks to do its job, and it also is not very demonstrative, quietly working away making your beer. Ale yeasts are much more active and can finish the job in 2 to 4 days, but lagers require patience.

Saaz hops are perfect for the style of beer you are brewing. A lovely noble hop.

Re: Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Wednesday Sep 17, 2008 10:15 am
by Iron-Haggis
Use a hydrometer. Pour a little beer out into a tube, the one the hydrometer comes in, then you can check the gravity of your beer which will tell you if it is fermenting and also give you a chance to taste the brew so you can tell if it is infected or not.

Re: Opening a fermenter.

Posted: Wednesday Sep 17, 2008 4:11 pm
by Pom
Cheers guys, I will not open the fermenter. Im glad you think the saaz will work well in the brew. And chris thanks for picking up on another of my spelling mistakes. (Iron haggis Punk in Drublic, good album)