First timer Q about fermentation

[Chris Walker]

Evening all
I started my first ever home brew Wednesday night. A woodfordes Nelson's Revenge. Followed the instructions carefully. 2 days into the fermentation process I have had a good head apear rise then fall however I am not getting much, if any bubbles in the trap.
I have checked the lids tight so I'm sure I'm not losing any.
Should I leave it and sit on my hands or is there something I need to do?

Cheers
Chris

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I am not getting much, if any bubbles in the trap.

Never take air lock activity or a lack of it as proof fermentation is taking place or isn't as many FV's are not 100% airtight, if you haven't already got one buy a hydrometer if you don't you will never know for sure.

 

[Chris Walker]

I do have one, came with the kit. Wasnt sure to open the FV up to take a reading. Guessing I will. Is there a certain range I should be looking for at this point?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I wouldn't take a reading now as most members advise not to open the FV as you risk it becoming contaminated.

This should help - https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/woodfordes-nelsons-revenge.14497/

.

 

[terrym]

The most likely reason that your airlock has stopped bubbling is that there is a leak between the lid and the FV itself. My suggestion is to leave it alone for say 8-10 days into the primary then take a reading. By then it should be all but finished and the SG should be around 1.010. If its finished leave it alone for another 3/4 days then go ahead and package. But if the SG is around 1.020 it's likely stuck, something that happens with some Muntons kits. See below for suggestions.
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...s-for-dealing-with-stuck-fermentations.74910/
Otherwise if you really want to see your airlock bubbling place four strips of cling film over the rim of the FV and replace the lid.
This may be of further help, including some advice on allowing 2 weeks in the FV, 2 weeks to carb and at least 2 weeks to condition before you try it
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...de-to-brewing-your-own-beer-from-a-kit.57526/

 

[Chris Walker]

Thanks guys. That's all top advice! I will sit on my hands and wait it out until the 10 day mark and see where it's at.
Thanks again.
Chris

 

[Nicks90]

TRUST YOUR BREW!

It wants nothing more than to become delicious beer.
Leave it alone.
Don't touch it
Leave the lid on
Stop worrying
Stare longingly at the plastic bucket
Marvel that there are billions of little monsters in there magically making alcohol and their entire life's mission is to eat sugar and get you ******
It will work
You will have beer

Patience.........

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks guys. That's all top advice! I will sit on my hands and wait it out until the 10 day mark and see where it's at.
Thanks again.
Chris

If you want an indication without removing the lid try putting your ear to the side of the FV.

.

 

[An Ankoù]

Is there a tap on your FV? If there is, you could run some beer off into a measuring cylinder (You need one of these to take readings. It's not a good idea to put the hydrometer in the FV) and take the FV. Throw the beer in the measuring cylinder away or drink it, but don't put it back.

 

[matt76]

Is there a tap on your FV? If there is, you could run some beer off into a measuring cylinder (You need one of these to take readings. It's not a good idea to put the hydrometer in the FV) and take the FV. Throw the beer in the measuring cylinder away or drink it, but don't put it back.

Not disputing that this is technically correct, but surely the simpler and safer advice to a new brewer still finding their feet with regard to proceed and sanitation is "leave it alone, it's probably fine and will become beer"

 

[An Ankoù]

Not disputing that this is technically correct, but surely the simpler and safer advice to a new brewer still finding their feet with regard to proceed and sanitation is "leave it alone, it's probably fine and will become beer"

You're right of course, if all Chris wants is to make beer. On the other hand, maybe he's curious as to what's going on and follow the progress of his beer and try to understand what and why things happen. He's going to have to take a sample at some stage. I agree that he shouldn't open the top of the FV though, for a few more days at least.

 

[terrym]

It's not a good idea to put the hydrometer in the FV.

Why not? If its sanitised its fine. Thats what I do and have done since I started brewing decades ago.

 

[matt76]

You're right of course, if all Chris wants is to make beer. On the other hand, maybe he's curious as to what's going on and follow the progress of his beer and try to understand what and why things happen. He's going to have to take a sample at some stage. I agree that he shouldn't open the top of the FV though, for a few more days at least.

Agreed.

For simplicity's sake, I would say in the beginning just leave it alone for 2-3 weeks and then take a gravity reading to confirm it's done prior to packaging, i.e. keep it simple to begin with and get the basics right.

Once you've a few brews under your belt, have a feel for sanitation and risk vs. reward then sure, go nuts with whipping off the FV lid whenever you feel like it etc.

 

[An Ankoù]

Why not? If its sanitised its fine. Thats what I do and have done since I started brewing decades ago.

We all take shortcuts that we wouldn't recommend to a novice and somehow it all works in the end. But to answer your question: first it involves taking the lid off, which increases the risk of introducing airborne infections. Then, many hydrometers are calibrated so as to be read at the bottom of the meniscus at eye level. This would need the brewer to introduce his head into the vessel with the risk of infecting the beer with dandruff or tainting it with Brylcream off-flavours. If there's any surface activity at all, the level will be difficult or impossible to determine. Drawing off a small sample from the tap allows you to taste it, de-gas the sample and measure the temperature and make the necessary corrections to the reading. The temperature can be measured in the FV of course, but that's just another thing to stick in the beer.
It's a good idea to pull out the airlock first to avoid the risk of fluid being drawn into the beer.
The last time I measured in the FV, I was making rhubarb wine in a glass demijohn and I intended leaving the hydrometer there until I was ready to bottle. The damn thing dropped to the bottom and smashed the bulb.

 

[matt76]

Err... "de-gas the sample" @An Ankoù ?

 

[terrym]

But to answer your question: first it involves taking the lid off, which increases the risk of introducing airborne infections.
Drawing off a small sample from the tap allows you to taste it, de-gas the sample and measure the temperature and make the necessary corrections to the reading. The temperature can be measured in the FV of course, but that's just another thing to stick in the beer.
If there's any surface activity at all, the level will be difficult or impossible to determine.
It's a good idea to pull out the airlock first to avoid the risk of fluid being drawn into the beer.

Lifting the lid off for 30 seconds or so is extremely unlikely to introduce airborne infections unless you leave it off for an hour or two, or are just unlucky. But if airborne infections abound why dont commecial brewers using open fermenters like squares or the union sytem get infected beer. If they did the practice would have been abandoned years ago.
So what happens if you dont have a an FV tap like me and many others, You've still got to get into the beer to take a sample which means opening the lid and putting something in the beer to take the sample. Doh! x 2.
'Surface activity' or not I can get a reading. If I couldn't I wouldnt do it this way.
But I do agree on disengaging the airlock, which also applies if you move the FV.

 

[An Ankoù]

Err... "de-gas the sample" @An Ankoù ?

Yes. Pour the sample from one glass to another to dispel the dissolved CO2, which would otherwise form bubbles on the bulb of the hydrometer causing it to float higher than it should.
Enough of this thread. Chris Walker must wonder if we're all nuts.

Well, I am anyway!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Pour the sample from one glass to another to dispel the dissolved CO2,

If you are putting the hydrometer directly into the FV spin the hydrometer so the bubbles don't stick. :thumba:

.

 

[GerritT]

I will sit on my hands and wait it out

You found out very quickly what we do 90% of the time! Congrats!

 

[chrisb8]

You found out very quickly what we do 90% of the time! Congrats!

Patience is key, but that is time to be planning your next brew or the one after that...