fermenting problem?

[vendejp]

my first batch of wort (american amber ale) is in the primary fermenter.... the airlock started bubbling about 1 bubble every 2 seconds for maybe a day and is now completely stopped.... is this something to worry about?

Original gravity was 1.040 (a little low i think).

thanks

[michaewa]

My first brew (last month) started bubbling at that rate on the second day, slowed waaaaay down by the third (to the point I thought it had stopped until I stared at it for several minutes).

I have just started drinking it, and (surely due to parental pride) it is one of the best beers I have ever had.

If you're worried you could always check the gravity with your hydrometer to make sure it has dropped to an acceptable level.

[Brownbeard]

I would think you are moving as expected. Is your primary a plastic bucket? That is what I use, they are not airtight, so it can still be fermenting and not bubbling. I would recommend going ahead as planned, if it has been fermenting for a couple days, let it go to a full week, then transfer to the secondary.

[sallad]

with a brew starting at 1040, it'll probably finish up rather quickly. so, i'd wait another day or 2, and rack to 2ndary. (or did you post a couple days ago saying you don't have a secondary? its hard to keep track sometimes...) if you don't have a secondary, i'd wait a couple more days and go strainght to bottling.

and for the record, IMHO 1040 is a respectable OG. it should ferment out to be about 4% ABV- a respectable beer! it seems a fair number homebrewers go for big beers 6 or 7% or higher, but we can still make small beers too! in fact, i make most of my beers in the 4-5.5% range and rarely anything over 6%.

on the other hand, i am planning a barelywine soon i hope to come in at around 10%.. :)

[vendejp]

whew... thanks guys... i feel better, and yes, its a plastic fermenter.

can i skip the secondary fermenter and put it directly into a 5 gal soda keg where it can finish its fermenting, or you think i should first go to a secondary fermenter for a few weeks, then move it to the keg? it seems to me the only benefit of this would be clearer beer.

Thanks for the help.... i think ill start a second batch as soon as i get this first one out of the primary
:D

[sallad]

i'd recommend a glass carboy for secondary. clearer beer is better beer! plus, you'll allow more yeast to settle out, so less chance of picking up off flavors from autolysis.

having said that, i didn't put my first batch in a secondary, just staight to bottles quickly followed by straight to my belly! it turned out fine. its much harder to make bad beer than good beer!

one final but important point- you don't want to ferment in your keg! (except for a little conditioning for natural carbonation) they are not designed for that, so you want to be very sure your fermentation is done. i know bottle can explode if its not done, and i imagine the same holds for kegs!