not fermenting?? and another quick question about wort cooling

[markjd11]

I made a batch about 5-6 days ago, and it doesn't appear to be fermenting. Wondering what i can do?

Also, another quick question. when cooling the wort should you have it in the fermenter then cool, or can you just cool the wort straight in the pot you boiled it in. the latter worked much faster the first batch i did, but the directions for the second batch told me to pour the wort into the fermenter and add water to make it 5 gallons then wait till its at 78 degrees. If anybody knows quick ways to cool the wort it would be appreciated.Thanks

-mark

[danno]

by "doesn't appear to be fermenting", what are you basing that on? lack of airlock activity? A quite common occurance if you're using a plastic bucket to primary ferment is that the lid won't completely seal, and your escaping co2 will go out the sides and not through the airlock. Do you have a krausen on top of your beer? If so, you're fine. Have you taken any hydrometer readings? It's also possible it's already fermented and you're done. Take a reading and report back... If it really is a stuck or failed fermentation, pitch some more yeast...

For chilling, whatever way works for you, works for your wort. The main thing is, the faster you chill and pitch your yeast, the less time you are leaving for an infection to set in... For a "cool in place" method, the old "kettle in the ice bath" works well, but uses a lot of ice. If you get ambitious, a immersion chiller will work well with just tap water.

Not too long after I started brewing, my wife bought me a 30 qt turkey fryer, just to brew beer in (and mainly get the brewing process out of the house...). I drilled a hole, added a valve and a homemade counterflow chiller, do full boils (start with 6 gallons of water) and with the CFC, get 60º wort in no time at all. It's made better beer (due to the full boils), quicker pitching, better cold break (for clarity), and a happier wife...

[YamahaXS]

if you have a bubbling airlock then its fermenting.

if no gas in being produced, then you should repitch some yeast. Follow the instructions on the package, which you probably did.

thats a long time to sit around, but if your EQ was clean then you might be alright.


please keep us updated.

[paul84043]

Is there any signs that there was a layer of foam on the beer or a ring around the fermenter?
What type of yeast did you use, and did you let it "start".

Immersion Wort chillers are wonderful inventions....easy to clean, use, store, and they work really well.

[markjd11]

Well i took a hydrometer reading and it seems to have fermented fine despite the fact that i personally never saw bubbles through the airlock. So all is well for now.

[YamahaXS]

bucket or carboy?

if you fermented i a bucket, then you might not of had a good seal on the lid, preventing the airlock from bubbling.

[markjd11]

thanks for the replys everyone