Beginners question

[Monkeyman]

Hi all, just joined, said hello now the questions start lol.
I have 3 x 5 gallon beer/IPA kits in the airing cupboard, along with 5 demijohns of cider. The cider started bubbling next day, but 3 days later no bubbles from any of the 5 gallon kits. Temperature ok. Could they be fermenting but just not as violent as all the demijohns? Don't seem to be any movement at all. Can I open them up and check the SG or will that ruin them? Strange how none of them look active and 3 different types of kit/yeast! I feel like a protective/expective father watching every hour please advise thx

 

[jonnymorris]

Best way is to measure the specific gravity of each. How warm is your airing cupboard?

 

[Aleman]

Airing cupboard is too hot, ideally you need between 18 and 22C (preferably under 20C). The yeast will have finished chewing up the sugars in the beer kits, the cider will have a bit more sugar so will go longer.

 

[Monkeyman]

Airing cupboard about 24 will find a better spot.

Airing cupboard is too hot, ideally you need between 18 and 22C (preferably under 20C). The yeast will have finished chewing up the sugars in the beer kits, the cider will have a bit more sugar so will go longer.

Would the yeast of chewed up all the sugar in 3 days without any visual bubbling? Thx

 

[Slid]

It may be possible that the initial fermentation on the beer kits is over at 3 days.
Unless the FVs are very opaque, you should be able to see a "krausen" ring of yeast just above the top of the wort? If so, the main fermentation is over and that is that.

If no krausen ring, then try to see what is happening, without lifting the FV lid. A torch behind the FV might help, then let us know more - which kits you are brewing, how warm the airing cupboard is overnight, during day etc.

 

[Monkeyman]

Yip all three have "krausen rings" so I sneaked into the John Bull IPA and took out enough to check SG. The SG was 1.006 so I checked the alcohol content and it was approx 7%! So looks like it's all done in 3 days without much visual bubbling, must have been at night. I have given the container a good shake and I have slight gas coming out the airlock. Hopefully enough to protect the contents from outside contaminants. Will leave all well alone for a few days. Thank you all for your help :thumb: