Hi all... This is my second batch. The first one came out just perfect. I THOUGHT I replicated the same steps--but now, the wort has been sitting for six days, and no bubbling is present in the airlock. I read some posts on several sites and cracked open the lid to take a look--the surface looks kind of brownish, with patches of small bubbles. The wort looks like it has reduced in volume though..the level looks lower than when I had started, and there is a "tide line" of hoppy-looking gunk around the container where it looks like the level used to be. Whatever advice you can give is much appreciated!
That tide line thing sounds like krausen, which is a sign of fermentation. As cskollman said, taking a gravity reading will confirm or deny whether or not its fermenting. It sounds like you are fermenting in a bucket. Are you sure your lid is securely fastened and sealed onto the bucket? If not, that could explain why you aren't getting any activity from your airlock. Regardless, airlock activity is not a reliable indicator of fermentation, so gravity readings are your best bet. The krausen ring is a good sign though.
Yeah, if you take two gravity readings over a 2-3 day period, and if the readings are steady and they match (or are real close) to your target gravity for your recipe, then you fermentation is done. If that's the case then let the beer sit for another two weeks to kind of condition itself (the yeast will clean up a few things that you don't want in your beer), and then keg or bottle it. It sounds like you're beer is going to be okay.
When starting fermentation, I have a hard time staying relaxed for the first 16 hours or so. Around that point I'll start to see some activity in the air lock/blowoff. Then don't touch it for at least 10 days (some will say 14+, but I think 10 is fine). If I'm dry hopping, I'll open it for the first time at 10 days, take a reading and let it keep going for 3-4 more days before either dry-hopping again or deciding it's ready to bottle. Depending on the OG, amount of yeast pitched and the temperature, it's possible to miss visual signs of of vigorous fermentation entirely. The high-tide line is a good indication that work was done. Lack of air lock activity at 6 days isn't abnormal. Read these forums with even a little regularity and you'll see the phrase: "Airlock activity is not a good indicator of fermentation activity," on a near-weekly basis. Also, way to go on your first beer. Having that one come out well goes a long way toward indicating you've got a solid grasp of the general process.
Tell us about the beer- OG goal, recipe, ingredients, process. A lot easier to diagnose with more info.
