Brew not doing anything.. am I being paranoid and or impatient?

[Valdevir]

Thank god its the weekend eh? And if you work weekends, please accept my apology

Managed to get my Norfolk Nog brew going in the fermenter and it's been sat in a nice 19-20c cupboard since around 1600 yesterday (22 hours approx). I've not noticed any activity in the airlock yet so was just wondering is this normal? Am I just being an impatient little giddy britches? If it isn't normal, what can I do to help it along?

Sorry for the Spanish inquisition, I do try to Google most things but can't seen to find any info on this one.

 

[Drunkula]

In 90% of cases yes - people worry over nothing. It could be the seal on your fermenter isn't tight, the yeast might be a bit laggy. Can you see any foam/krausen/bubbles through the side of the fermenter? Press the lid down harder and if you've got nothing in a few hours just take a little peek.

Aaaaand you did put the yeast in?

 

[Valdevir]

In 90% of cases yes - people worry over nothing. It could be the seal on your fermenter isn't tight, the yeast might be a bit laggy. Can you see any foam/krausen/bubbles through the side of the fermenter? Press the lid down harder and if you've got nothing in a few hours just take a little peek.

Aaaaand you did put the yeast in?

Hello. Yeah i did put the yeast in :laugh: There does look to be some foam building up and the lid is definitely on properly, so perhaps I just need to take a chill pill and see what it's doing tomorrow :thumb: cheers mate.

 

[Clint]

Don’t worry! Just make sure the fv lid is snapped down firmly if you want to see bubbles....but like said it may not be totally airtight but it’s not a problem. Don’t be tempted to keep taking the lid off and fiddling with it...yet. Shine a torch through the lid and watch carefully for any bubbles. Also another sign is the fv lid bulging as gas is produced. A bubbling airlock,although very nice to watch,is not guaranteed..unless you can get your fv air tight.

 

[terrym]

If your FV lid is not sealing properly your airlock will be about as much use as a chocolate tea pot. And your lid might look sealed but perhaps it isn't. It can be really hit and miss. But if you really really really want to see your airlock bubble put four strips of cling film around the FV rim, and it will provide a gas tight seal when you click the lid back down.

 

[Fil]

the only copper bottomed guaranteed method to judge activity in a brew is to take gravity readings and compare the progress of the gravity drop. airlocks, and visula signs of activity are at best only indicators of yeast activity, so sit back and chill for a week and take a gravity reeading and sup your sample and then and only then if no drop in gravity 'PANIC!!'

 

[Valdevir]

Thanks everyone! Yeah I'll try not to fiddle with it and just take a gravity reading next weekend, airlock activity or not. My cider seems to be bubbling away like a good un anyhow, so at least I've got something to look at :laugh2: