Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
air lock
I have recently started brewing beer and bought a Wherry kit. I used a thermostatic heater and kept the temperature between 22 and 24 degrees, put the fermenting bin lid on but forgot to place the airlock into the lid so there was a small 1cm diameter hole in the lid. will this affect the beer or did it need to be completely air locked during the first fermenting stage, as there hasn't been much movement on the hydrometer since I transferred the beer into the barrel last Monday?
Responses
Posted 6 months ago by Moderator
It should be fine, I dont use an air lock, just crack the lid open a bit on the side. I would however thought to have seen some signs of fermentation by now, wherry kits are normally quick to start.
is the hydrometer in the actual fermenting bin? Did you add the yeast and make sure it was properly air-ated?
Nath
Fermenting - GW's 49er
Planning - An IPA
Planning - Some type of lager
Planning - A hoppy full bodied ale of sorts!
Posted 6 months ago by Member
Hi Andy
You'll probably be ok. Through the first vigorous fermentation the yeast spits out CO2 which sits on top of the beer (along with the kraussen) and protects it. A lot of people won't even have the lid on until the main ferment is over. I always cover and add a fermentation lock .. but each to his own.
When you racked to the barrel, did you sample it?
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 6 months ago by Moderator
Sorry, didnt read your post properly - didnt see you moved it into a barrel! Duh!
The hydrometer wont move if its finished fermenting and youve barreled it so as long as the hydrometer is a low reading (1.015 or lower) all is good.
Take a pint out, make sure hydro is a low reading and drink pint! Simples!
Fermenting - GW's 49er
Planning - An IPA
Planning - Some type of lager
Planning - A hoppy full bodied ale of sorts!
Posted 6 months ago by Member
Fellow connoisseurs of beer
I have drained a sample from the barrel tap into a hydrometer jar, its still very cloudy after 6 days and the hydrometer reading 1.010 and 1.020, does this sounds about right for 6 days into secondary?
Posted 6 months ago by Moderator
Dont worry about the cloudyness it will sort its self out when its ready. Im unsure about the reading, how can it be 1010 and 1020?
When the hydrometer reads a constant reading for 2 days your fine to keg/bottle up anyhoo
Fermenting - GW's 49er
Planning - An IPA
Planning - Some type of lager
Planning - A hoppy full bodied ale of sorts!
Posted 6 months ago by Member
Nath
Sorry, i meant the hydrometer ia sitting at the mid point of 1.010 and 1.020 so i assume reading it correct its 1.015. should the hydrometer sink or float higher over time?
Posted 6 months ago by Member
Hey Andy
It should sink as the sugars are turned to alcohol. If you've had a really successful brew, the hydrometer will sink so fast that it plummets right through your beer and out the bottom of your fv!
(cut to vid of homer simpson with tongue hanging out saying 'mmmmmm alcohol')
As nath said... 1015 is pretty good if you've got that same reading for 2 or 3 days.
Bottle and be damned!
I should stop drinking that brakspear triple.. especially on a tuesday.
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 6 months ago by Member
Thanks all..
Posted 5 months ago by Member
Can anyone help. i transferred the beer into a barrel around 4 weeks ago and the beer is still cloudy. It smell ok and tastes ok but not clear, is there anything i can do or should i just chuck it and start again?
Posted 5 months ago by Key Master
Wherry can take a while. Move it to the coolest place that you can as that will help drop the yeast out of suspension.
It will clear eventually but sometimes it can take a long time. Get another brew on so you don't have wait so long for the next one when you finish this one.
Fermenting: FFF Moondance
Conditioning: I can't remember (Porter)
Drinking:Turbo Cider, Ringwood 49Er Clone, Summer Lightning, Elderflower Champagne
Posted 5 months ago by Member
I agree with what Greg is saying.
I made the Summer Ale (receipe available on site) and put it in the secondary fermenter 7 weeks ago.. Looked good smelt good and more importantly tasted good. It was still cloudy but it has now cleared nicely and is a proper pint.
So you'll be fine....
Posted 5 months ago by Member
Gents
Would you not recommend drinking cloudy beer as i tempted...
Posted 5 months ago by Member
You can drink cloudy beer.. I drunk a half pint of my ale while it was still cloudy and didn't do me any harm to be honest. Although i do have a twitch every now and again
You should be fine... but it's more appealing when nice clear and bright.
Posted 5 months ago by Member
:o) Absolutely nothing wrong with drinking cloudy beer at all.. it's only a matter of appearance. If you can wait for it to clear, then fine .. but if you can't, go ahead and drink some now! :o)
Enjoy it!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 5 months ago by Key Master
I often drink a large "sample" out of the fermenter so definitely won't do you any harm. In fact it the yeast is really high in Vit B so its actually quite good for you!
Fermenting: FFF Moondance
Conditioning: I can't remember (Porter)
Drinking:Turbo Cider, Ringwood 49Er Clone, Summer Lightning, Elderflower Champagne
Posted 5 months ago by Member
The best thing i've done is buying a second fermentation bin so after a week I can transfer the beer from the primary to the secondary fermenter for another week before bottling or kegging. Really seems to make a difference to the speed the beer clears in.
Also the 'simple syphon' available on the website really cuts down the amount of sediment you transfer to the keg. Well worth investing.
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