Fermentation question (still fermenting)

Airlock activity tells you nothing useful about fermentation status. Check the gravity over a couple of days. If it's not dropping, then it's a safe bet that fermentation is complete. (Frankly, after three weeks, it's already a safe bet that fermentation is complete - the gravity will simply confirm it.)

 

As a general rule, I'd agree that airlock activity ceasing is not a definite indicator of fermentation being done. But I'd also venture to say that airlock activity which has been and still is continuously active seems to be a more reliable indicator that fermentation is still happening no? Of course exceptions exist like the gassing off that can occur from moving the fermenter and/or adding dry hops.

To the OP: What was your starting gravity, yeast pitch rate, fermentation temperature, and reason you have a picture of Cher as your avatar (kidding)?

P.S. Mike's advice to take a gravity reading now and then another one in a few days from now is solid nonetheless. It will tell you how far along you are, how close to your desired FG you are, and if the process is still happening.

 

Bubbles can occur in the airlock from temp swings as well, even as low as a couple degrees up and down. Gravity rreadings are your best bet in any case really.

 

Hmmmmm... I was going to ask who that woman was with Gregg Allman. Thanks for clearing that up!

 

Gas escaping from solution can mimic continued fermentation, even if fermentation is complete. Bubbling from an airlock is unreliable as a source of indication of fermentation's condition. After more than two weeks, you can be reasonably certain your beer is not fermenting anymore. Gravitometer readings can confirm this. Sounds like you're about ready to bottle/keg

 

So wait a week and take a reading. Then another 2 days later.

 

´Question....is it normal for the beer to keep bubbling like this and the airlock to keep bubbling.´

I don´t understand very well this statement , sorry english is not my language.What do you mean when you say that " beer bubbling like this" ? is there any kind of foam/krausen in your carboy after 3 weeks?

 

Esteban, he is still experiencing bubbling in his airlock and it has been 3 weeks since he pitched the yeast.

Cheers!

 

I know Jack, but maybe I am wrong but he says the beer is bubbling besides the airlock, that is what I understand, hence I ask him about krausen or foam.

 

Those bubbles you see indicate there is still fermentation activity.If this beer was slow to start fermenting and/or it is slow to end it either, it is possible that it has been underpitched.Take a sample to test how does it taste

 

OR, you could just have a lot of C02 dissolved in your beer, and a lot of it is gassing out with temp variances, movement, etc. It isn't unusual for me to pull a gravity reading from primary and have the sample actually be slightly carbonated. That does not mean the beer is still fermenting necessarily. That just means the yeast kicked out a helluva lot of C02 and a lot of it actually dissolved into the beer.

Of course, as others have mentioned, the only way to know for sure is to take gravity reading. So wait a week till you get your hydrometer back, and do so.

 

I made a "beer-like substance" recently, and it bubbled for 5 weeks. I took a gravity reading at 3weeks, then another a 5 weeks, and the gravity had only dropped 1 point. As others have already stated, probably just excess gas escaping.

 

You're not going to have a correct answer until you take two gravity readings that match. If your "bubbling" beer can also be described as 'churning' then I'd say those little critters may still be working and enjoying their life. It won't hurt to wait a week until you get your hydrometer back. If you're in a hurry to bottle this beer then get another hydrometer. We all break them on a regular basis, so you'll need another one sooner or later.

 

...and that is one of the reasons I use a refractometer!