Hi All

[Doonebug]

Hi all, my name is MacK,
I am completely new to homebrewing, just started my first using Youngs Brew Buddy Starter Kit (Lager), it's been formenting for 36 hours now and looks flat no bubbles, no froth. Yet I sterilised all my equipment and followed the instructions completely appart from the brewers sugar as they were out of stock but said to use normal sugar, the room temp is 22o C, have I totally knacked this or is there something I can do to this, I live in a warm house so when it comes to storing it in a cooler place it's gonna have to be the shed, any advise will be greatfully recieved.

Cheers MacK :pray:

 

If you've done what it said on the tin,there'be no problem.
One of the harder things to learn about HB is patience.
Make sure your temp is around 18-20C, a degree or two either way won't hurt.
Good luck! :thumb:

 

[broadfordbrewer]

Hi Mack and Welcome to the forum. Ericstd is right, no need for worry, it sounds like you have done the right things (normal sugar is fine) and it's just a waiting game. The carbonation will come when you condition the brew in bottles/keg. I've you're worried that nothing is happening at all (i.e. no yeast 'froth'), then you need to get hold of a hydrometer (see Brew FAQ section) and take a couple of specific gravity (SG) readings. If the readings are all high (still between 1040 and 1020) or remaining constant at this early stage of the fermentation, then you need to come back and let us know so you can get some advice on what action to take to get the thing kick started. Don't do anything to it yet though, watch and wait and get yourself a hydrometer if you haven't already got one. :thumb:

 

[Tony]

Nice to meet you Doonebug
:

(Yeah, do what they said!)

 

[31bb3]

welcome to the forum :thumb:

 

[Doonebug]

Hi Mack and Welcome to the forum. Ericstd is right, no need for worry, it sounds like you have done the right things (normal sugar is fine) and it's just a waiting game. The carbonation will come when you condition the brew in bottles/keg. I've you're worried that nothing is happening at all (i.e. no yeast 'froth'), then you need to get hold of a hydrometer (see Brew FAQ section) and take a couple of specific gravity (SG) readings. If the readings are all high (still between 1040 and 1020) or remaining constant at this early stage of the fermentation, then you need to come back and let us know so you can get some advice on what action to take to get the thing kick started. Don't do anything to it yet though, watch and wait and get yourself a hydrometer if you haven't already got one. :thumb:

Still no froth as yet (been 5 days now), have done SG readings for the past 2 days yesterday was 1.010 and todays is 1.004 if this means anything will keep taking readings until I have 3 days of constent readings, by the readings I am assuming it is working, just a bit confused as to why no froth ( a couple of bubbles can be seen coming to the surface ) as when seeing everyone elses reports froth seems to be a constent bi-product :hmm: thanks for the advise recieved, any other views on this will be welcomed and thanks again guys :

 

[broadfordbrewer]

Still no froth as yet (been 5 days now), have done SG readings for the past 2 days yesterday was 1.010 and todays is 1.004 if this means anything will keep taking readings until I have 3 days of constent readings, by the readings I am assuming it is working, just a bit confused as to why no froth ( a couple of bubbles can be seen coming to the surface ) as when seeing everyone elses reports froth seems to be a constent bi-product :hmm: thanks for the advise recieved, any other views on this will be welcomed and thanks again guys :

From what you're saying it sounds like it might be done? 1.004 is lower than the target 1.006 for that kit I think? Depending on the temp, your SG readings could be corrected to go up or down... it's usually very little difference though.... can't understand your 1.004 reading to be honest. I'd give it till tomorrow and retake you reading to see whats what.

 

[Doonebug]

Took another SG reading today and it's still at 1.004 and the aroma is well lets just say smells like you want to drink it now :lol: and still sitting at 22oC, would the fact I had no froth have something to do with my 1.004 reading , just waiting to see tomorrows reading result will let you know if it's the same for a 3rd day and thanks again guys. :thumb:

 

[broadfordbrewer]

Sounds like its done. I'd rack it : If your original gravity was 1040 and you finished at 1004 then you should have a 4.8% beer! :party:

 

[Doonebug]

I was planning to rack it this afternoon as need to pop out and get a few bits that I thought I had but seem to have misplaced them :lol: 4.8%abv huh sounds good to me and the kit said it would be around 4%, still any idea as to why no froth 'Bishopsfinger'? still got me confused :wha: . : Guys :thumb:

 

[broadfordbrewer]

Not sure on the no froth, but wouldn't worry about it too much as the SG has consistently fallen and your FG hit it's target of around 1006. It may be that it got off to a fast start, produced the froth and then that can subside and disappear. Are you left with a broken brownish crust? I would imagine it will have just broken up completely and sunk to the bottom of the FV at this stage. Your next one will have some froth I'm sure! :thumb: Every kit is different and will behave according to the process and its environment... no hard and fast rules as log as you produce a nice tasting drink with some volume!!

 

[stevander74]

welcome to the forum Mack. :

 

[Doonebug]

. Are you left with a broken brownish crust? I would imagine it will have just broken up completely and sunk to the bottom of the FV at this stage.

Yeah I had a brown crust along the sides at the top of the fermention bin it was quite thick as well bout a 1mm thick by 10mm wide :drunk:

 

[BigYin]

Then you did have a frothy head on the fermenting beer right at the start and it just died down quickly - nothing wrong with that at all :thumb:

Welcome to the forum :drink: :drink:

 

[Doonebug]

Yeah I had froth right at the start, right back when I took the fluid level upto the 5 gallon mark as instructed then about 40 min later it looked like flat beer :lol:

 

[BigYin]

What you'll probably find, is that every brew is different - they don't all behave exactly as the one before - so the biggest trick is
a. Be patient
b. Don't worry - have a beer instead :drink:

'b' has an optional element - the beer - I don't advise that if you just checked your brew before heading off to work :lol: :lol: :nono: