Is this normal

[Meanbeanz]

Hello all this is my first time brewing, I haven't seen much activity with bubbles but presume something is happening as this has happened, temps are at about 16-18degrees currently on day 5 but has been like this for a couple of days,

 

[Clint]

That looks like the bucket is sucking the airlock liquid back ...this usually happens when you chill a brew. It should be pushing the other way...can you warm it up a bit...move it or wrap it in a coat/sleeping bag?

 

[Dads_Ale]

What yeast have you used? Where are you measuring the temp?
Your temp may be a bit on the low side.
As @Clint says it looks like it has lower pressure in the FV

 

[Meanbeanz]

Thanks I have just wrapped a coat around it, due to start testing it for bottling on Wednesday should I delay this for a couple of days or will it be good to carry on

 

[Meanbeanz]

What yeast have you used? Where are you measuring the temp?
Your temp may be a bit on the low side.
As @Clint says it looks like it has lower pressure in the FV

I was using the yeast that came in the kit, the temp gauge is about centre of the fermenter, just wrapped in a nice big jacket but might have to get a heater in there with it for a little while

 

[Dads_Ale]

Thanks I have just wrapped a coat around it, due to start testing it for bottling on Wednesday should I delay this for a couple of days or will it be good to carry on

You would need to take some gravity readings to see if the fermentation has stopped.
It may have stalled a bit due to the temp.

 

[Meanbeanz]

You would need to take some gravity readings to see if the fermentation has stopped.
It may have stalled a bit due to the temp.

Would you recommend don't the readings as planned then if readings fail then leave it a few more days

 

[Dads_Ale]

You need a steady reading over a few days to be sure. But this does assume your FG is in the right ballpark

 

[Meanbeanz]

Just put a heater in there to warm it up a little as well, I thought 14 degrees was the lowest it should drop to, What do you mean by FG please

 

[Clint]

What type of beer is it? If it's an ale or came with an ale yeast it needs a constant temp if around 20c for at least a couple of weeks.

 

[Meanbeanz]

It's the morgans blue Mountain premium lager kit.

https://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Morgans-Beer-Making-Starter-Kit-Blue.html

 

[Dads_Ale]

FG is final gravity which you should be measuring with a hydrometer.

 

[Meanbeanz]

FG is final gravity which you should be measuring with a hydrometer.

That's the 2 consecutive days of no movement, I took a reading like it says to once its all mixed and got a reading of 1.050

 

[Clint]

Well if it still reads 1.050 it hasn't started...it probably needs to read under 1.010.

 

[Meanbeanz]

Well if it still reads 1.050 it hasn't started...it probably needs to read under 1.010.

That reading was from when I first mixed it all and filled the fermenter

 

[Clint]

What's your instructions say?

 

[Meanbeanz]

What's your instructions say?

Just said to take a measurement before yeast is added then about 5 days after to take measurements on consecutive days if the levels on the consecutive days remain the same proceed to bottle, doesn't explain why you take one when first mixing

 

[Clint]

The OG minus the FG gives your abv. I'd get it up to temp if you can then leave it at least another week before testing it again. Also...anything you stick in your beer MUST be sanitised.

 

[Meanbeanz]

Yeah I sanitised it all before mixing, not opened since then and don't intend on opening till its bottled, prob a good idea to leave it longer seen as its been cold, as I said earlier I thought it had to be no colder than 14 degrees

 

[Dads_Ale]

The fermentation temp for an ale should be between 18c and 20c (dependent on the yeast). You will need to take some hydrometer readings before you bottle. If it hasn't finished primary fermentation and you bottle then you could have bottle bombs (primary fermentation continues in the bottle), especially if you put the bottles in a warmer place.