Not fermenting?

[crazycallum]

I've been doing my first kit the other day, spoke to a few people on the forum about it but it doesn't seem to be bubbling or anything at all and its been 2 days? It had a slight layer of bubbles on it but hardly anything really... Should I give it a stir to see if I can wake it up a bit? Or would you recommend doing something else

 

[Dunfie]

Hi cc

Have you taken a gravity reading?

 

[crazycallum]

No I haven't.. I've got a hydrometer but I don't have a clue what I'm supposed to be looking at lol

 

[Dunfie]

Its simple enough. Hydrometers are calibrated so that when you place them in water you should be a reading of 1000. As there are sugars in your wort the gravity will be higher. So an example of the original gravity (OG) will be 1040 (the gravity is approx 4% greater that that of water). As the yeast converts the sugar into alcohol the gravity will drop so that you will typically be in the 1010 - 1014 range (Final Gravity).

So what you want to do is use your hydrometer to see if the gravity has dropped from the OG (you will get a guide from the kit). This will let you know if things are working okay.

 

[crazycallum]

I threw the wrapping from the kit tin away I'll use the hydrometer now, if I started the brew on friday at about half 4 what should my gravity reading be around now if its going well?

Just done it and at the minute its around 1016, does that mean it's nearing drinking time? :drunk:

 

[corby_brewer]

callum
it usualy takes between 3 - 5 days to fement. some of us on here usualy leave it in the FV for anything up to 14 days. when you get the same hydro reading for 3 concecutive days the its ready to bottle or keg.

DS