Has fermentation stalled?

[Bashley]

Hi All

I currently have the Youngs APA on the go, it's been bubbling away nicely for 5 days. I noticed that all the water on the airlock was on one side so I decided to undo the lid (release pressure), take out the airlock and fill it so there was water on both sides up to the middle. I don't know how important this is (novice) but anyway!
I put back the lock, made sure the youngs FV lid was completely sealed and got on with my day.
However, it's been 2 days and not a single 'blurp' from the airlock! I've checked the lid...all ok. I know from my limited experience that a lack of airlock activity doesn't necessarily mean a stalling brew, but obviously this is slightly different.
This brew should take at least 10 days to finish fermenting so I wonder what's happening.
What's the easiest way of checking that all is well? Take gravity readings? There's a big krausen at the moment and I don't really want to mess with it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Simonh82]

Some beers can pretty much finish active fermentation in 2-3 days. It takes longer for them to clear up the by products of fermentation which is why we leave everything alone for a bit longer.

Bear in mind that to get the airlock going again the yeast would need to produce enough CO2 to repressurise the lid and move the water. That's a tiny amount compared to what they kick out during the active fermentation phase but when they are finished fermenting it may never reach the required pressure to move the airlock.

I'd leave it for another few days then take a gravity reading. I bet it will be fine.

 

[Bashley]

Thanks Simon, that all seems to make a lot of sense. Didn't think about the pressure aspect. Cheers!!

 

[-Bezza-]

I've found the Young's yeast can ferment out pretty quickly, especially if the temperature is consistently warm, so you could well be done.

You don't need to worry about where the water level sits in the airlock. Although it's level to start with, the CO2 pressure that builds in the FV will push against the water and push it more towards the exit. All perfectly normal.

 

[WierdFish]

Many people don't bother with an airlock as a well fitted lid with a small breather hole is perfectly OK. The important thing is the gravity reading, has it got to the ballpark number that the kit instructions suggest? I'd leave it a while anyway but check the gravity.

 

[Wouter]

Hi Bashley,

There is probably nothing wrong and it all makes sense!

A normal siphon water lock (I use a cylindrical type myself actually):


The water often moves to only one side (the one closest to the exit) after a few days. Pressure builds up and pushes it towards that end.
Thats perfectly normal. Now after 5 days the fermentation is mostly completed so releasing all the pressure and reinstalling it won't give any blubs any more (as Simon eloquently described).

 

[terrym]

Just because your lid looks leakproof doesnt mean it is leakproof. If it is leaking you may not see any airlock activity. However since you have a krausen on your beer it is highly likely to be still fermenting. I recently did a Youngs APA. I left it 18 days in the FV before I dry hopped when the primary had finished. I suggest you forget all about it until at least 15 days in and then take an SG reading. Or if you really really really want to see your airlock bubble, remove the lid, drape four sections of cling film over the FV top edge, and replace the lid, and you will then have an effective seal, and your airlock will start bubbling again

 

[Bashley]

So, after 9 days I still have a foamy Krausen on top. Can't be normal surely.

 

[BeardedMag]

So, after 9 days I still have a foamy Krausen on top. Can't be normal surely.

I did the same kit as my first ever brew and it took 14 days to reach bottling gravity. Stick with it!

 

[Bashley]

I did the same kit as my first ever brew and it took 14 days to reach bottling gravity. Stick with it!

I'm happy to stick with it. Just don't know when to dry hop.

 

[terrym]

Leave it alone!! Its still fermenting as it should. Be happy you have a healthy krausen.
Give it another week before you open it up again.
What's the rush?
As I said above it was 18 days in before I dry hopped this kit last time I did it when the primary had properly finished. You are only half way there relative to that.

 

[Bashley]

:thumb: