First Brew, No Bubbles in Airlock After 40 Hours

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by RustyPLanert, Nov 4, 2014.

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  1. RustyPLanert

    RustyPLanert Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2014 Illinois

    It's my first brew. Brewing a zombie dust clone using S-04 yeast. Not seeing any bubbles in the airlock after 40 hours. Does that mean anything regarding fermentation? I popped the lid open and saw Krausen (see pic). Can you guys tell me if I am on the right track here?[​IMG]
     
  2. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    No bubbles might just mean that your bucket has a leak, so the gas is escaping elsewhere. Krausen is a good sign. But if you really want to know...wait for it...take a gravity reading.
     
  3. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    My recommendation is to put the lid back on, wait a total of two weeks from when you pitched, and measure the gravity. Then measure again 3 days later. And don't count bubbles.
     
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  4. scurvy311

    scurvy311 Savant (1,135) Dec 3, 2005 Louisiana

    If the yeast has produced krausen, it would be of little use to take a gravity reading now, it is fermenting. Wait 2 weeks then take a gravity reading, just don't take the lid off until after you have transferred it to bottling bucket.
     
  5. epk

    epk Pundit (849) Jun 10, 2008 New Jersey

    As MCBanjoMike said, Krausen is a good sign. From the look of that pic, you definitely had activity regardless of bubbles. The airlock is never a good indicator of anything. Its totally possible that a lot of that activity happened while you weren't even able to observe. Unless you are a robot that never sleeps which you obviously aren't, because you asked this question.... or is this some elaborate robot ruse?

    No, of course not... Now do what Vikeman said.
     
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  6. RustyPLanert

    RustyPLanert Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2014 Illinois

    Lid was off for a total of 30 seconds. I was planning to transfer to a secondary at 2 weeks and take a gravity reading at that point in time. Thanks for the advice guys.
     
  7. SaCkErZ9

    SaCkErZ9 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,057) Feb 27, 2005 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    For God's sake, get the lid back on the bucket!!!! Aaahhhhh!
     
  8. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Just to throw it out there...no reason to transfer a Pale Ale to secondary. Just throw those dry-hops right into primary
     
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  9. RustyPLanert

    RustyPLanert Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2014 Illinois

    This got me curious and so I read up some: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/secondary-fermentation-rack-not-rack-155255/

    I'm thinking I will leave it in the primary for the full 4 weeks, adding the dry hops with about 5 days before the 4 weeks are up.
     
  10. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    There are many ways to do dry-hopping, schedules and such. If it were me, I'd dry-hop at the end of two weeks, for 5-7 days...and then bottle. So, that would be 3 weeks in primary, total. Of course, this should all be done in conjunction with gravity readings.

    Like I said, though, there are many ways to do it...but just remember that time is the enemy of hops. That and oxidation...but you catch my drift.
     
    #10 JohnSnowNW, Nov 4, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2014
  11. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    A little early for this. He has a leak whether it's in the lid or he does not have enough liquid in the air lock. Once you see yeast activity there is no need to check gravity before 2 weeks unless doing a D-rest.
     
    VikeMan likes this.
  12. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    I stand corrected!
     
  13. Lukass

    Lukass Pooh-Bah (2,891) Dec 16, 2012 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    I would definitely wait it out, do a gravity reading after 2 weeks, and if the FG isn't low enough, you can always add more S-04 to finish it off. Did you do a yeast starter? May be a stuck fermentation.. ? but that's just a guess.
     
  14. RustyPLanert

    RustyPLanert Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2014 Illinois

    No yeast starter. I did hydrate the yeast in 1 cup of water as described in How To Brew, though. I will wait 2 weeks and check the FG at that point. Shooting for around a 1.018 FG. OG was 1.067
     
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