Airlock bubbling forever (nearly)

[daveozzz]

OK I know when airlocks stop bubbling that is no indication that fermentation has stopped, due to leaky seals and escaping gas etc. makes sense.

But does the opposite hold true..? Can the airlock continue bubbling even after fermentation's stopped?

Got a batch in the FV, 11 days old, no krausen at all, but still bubbling every few minutes. Seems weird! Most my brew stop bubbling after 2 days.

(It's a 1.055 OG Hefe with 3068)

 

[The Ginger Ninja]

If its bubbling then the yeasties must be munching on somthing to create the gas so I reckon it is still fermenting. What was the OG and whats the Gravity now?

 

[RobWalker]

It will still give off plenty of co2 for weeks. I get a bubble once every 5 mins or so when fermentation is done. Best method I find is just to clear it on the bucket. There's pros and cons, but keeps it simple and generally.flaw free!

 

[daveozzz]

Thinking about it, I think this happened the one other time I used Wyeast 3068.
Both those brews totally filled the bucket with krausen and clogged the airlock (now changed and cleaned obviously)...

I wonder if the krausen and other **** is getting forced into all the little gaps and cracks that would normally allow a bit of CO2 to escape, and then it dries up and completely seals the FV for a change?

So I'm seeing normal residual CO2 release through the airlock that would normally escape elsewhere... so maybe it's business as usual then!

 

[pittsy]

i take it youve used that in hefe's , how did you find it ? i haven't used that and love my wheats is it more clove or banana and what temps you brew at ?

 

[daveozzz]

i take it youve used that in hefe's , how did you find it ? i haven't used that and love my wheats is it more clove or banana and what temps you brew at ?

I'm no expert at all but I do like 3068 in hefes. Only used 3068 once before - that was brewed around 22-27 (there was a bit of an unexpected heatwave at the time!) and it was nicely banana-y.
I've done another with Whitelabs WL300 which I thought was meant to be the same strain - but was really disappointed with that one - maybe my fault but got very little banana or clove - brewed around 20 that time.

Fingers crossed this 3068 batch turned out more like the first. Brewed around 20-22 so far.