My first batch - and fermentation stopped after two days..?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Spitz289, Jan 20, 2013.

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  1. Spitz289

    Spitz289 Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2013

    So I started my first batch a few days ago and I am on my third day of primary fermentation and the bubbles have ceased. The first day I had a stream of steady large bubbles and now I am lucky if I've got tiny bubbles sticking to the side of the airlock..
    I had been talking to my dad and he said that he didn't know if the small airlock would suffice for the primary fermentation and that it can become so vigorous that instead he makes his own on a larger scale to handle it. I, not wanting to disturb anything, did not take his advice and decided to play it by ear and just trust the instructions I was already following..
    BUT as I keep checking on it, there are no longer any signs of bubbles, no less a vigorous fermentation...
    What could have caused this?? Maybe I didn't sanitize well enough and something is stopping it to ferment..? I would even say that my seal isn't tight enough, but I've already seen signs of bubbles so I assume that it is..
    Then again this is my first batch so maybe I am just super paranoid and anxious..
    ANY advice would be MUCH appreciated!
     
  2. VikeMan

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

    Airlock size is not going to affect your fermentation. Not sanitizing is not going to stop your fermentation. It's possible that attenuation is simply finished. It's also possible that it is continuing, depending on how airtight your fermenter is (isn't). Bubbles are not a particularly good quantitative indicator, and are a terrible indicator for a first batch. Wait a week and take a hydrometer reading. Then take another one 2-3 days later.

    Read this while you're waiting...
    www.howtobrew.com

    Edit: the one thing I would make sure of in the meantime is that your wort is in the recommended temperature range for whatever yeast strain you're using.
     
  3. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Relax, Don't worry, etc, etc, etc.
    You don't mention the details of your brew - original gravity, expected final gravity, yeast status, temps, etc, but I would guess that major fermentation is about done. I still would leave it about another week and a half or so before even thinking about popping the top to check gravities. Do so then, then again another 2 or 3 days later. If it's the same at that point, then think about bottling.
    If I had to guess, I'd say that major fast fermenting is over, but there's still some going on, plus the yeast are cleaning up after themselves.
    As VikeMan said, airlock size itself doesn't have anything to do with fermentating, as long as it's preventing air from getting in.
     
  4. VikeMan

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

    Well, even if air is getting in, that's not going to stop fermentation.
     
  5. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like it's working fine. Vigorous fermentation often only lasts a couple days. Chillax and have a brew. It will come out fine. Leave it be for a couple weeks and brew another one in the meantime if you can.
     
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