Airlock + Condensation

[JBTREP]

G'day Guys,

Been reading afew of the threads and they have been very helpful.....so thank you.

I just want to make sure my situation applies to what has been said.

I've got a draught mix in the fermenter at the moment and I just wanted to know whether it's still alive.

The first day I put it in everything seemed to go fine....mind you I forgot to put water in the airlock, will that effect it at all?. In the first few hours a foam like head appeared, it was bubbling away and it was smelling ever so nice.

On the second day it continued to bubble and I noticed that the temp was up to like 34 degrees....which I know is ridiculously hot so I took it inside and put it in a bath of cold water and wrapped a wet towel around it. I have now maintained a temp of 22 degrees for two days. I am seeing ALOT of condensation but no bubbling on the surface.

I got a bit anxious last night after having a few beers and decided to add another yeast as I couldnt see the bubbling nor did it have a strong smell.....Did I do the wrong thing? WIll it still be okay?

Oh also when I took the first OG reading it was at 1040....is that a normal reading for a draught mixture?

Cheers once again guys.

[warra48]

An OG reading of 1040 is OK for what you are brewing, depending on what you added to the kit, and to what volume you made it up in the fermenter.

Your fermentation took off fairly quickly, as evidenced by the foam head (kraeusen) in the first few hours. Your yeast were obviously happy working in a too warm environment (just as you are happier in a hot tub than in an icy cold water bath). At the temperatures of up to 34ºC, they would have ripped through their job in double quick time, and I would not be surprised to see it is all done and dusted. Be prepared for possibly some taste and aroma which is less than desirable.

Not adding water to your airlock might (and only a small might) have allowed some wild yeast etc into your fermenter, but the airlock has such a small opening in it, I think it is very unlikely. The quick start to your fermentation would have produced a large volume of CO­­­², which would displace any oxygen, and given your brew reasonable protection.

Adding another yeast would have done no harm, but was probably unncessary, without taking another hydro reading first to see where you were at.
I'd take a reading now, and I'd be surprised if you weren't down to your expected final gravity.

[JBTREP]

Ah okay sweet, I took a reading early this morning and it seems to have stopped at 1010....so I'll take it this arvo and tomorrow morning to make sure....if all goes well I'll start to bottle.

Cheers heaps for the advise and replies, I really appreciate it.

I'm going to get myself another two kits tomorrow....see if I can get a whole heaps of different mixtures done

Plus my mates are over frequently, so no doubt they'll help me drink it! hahaha

[Longwood-65]

My first brew was too hot, 30 something not sure how high exactly.
It looked like beer poured like beer but tasted nothing like beer, kind of cidery. A dozen bottles of my favorite commercial mixed 50-50 in the glass with the home brew made it easier to drink.

Cheers
Ron

[JBTREP]

Hahahaha yeah I'm alittle worried about the taste......See how it goes