We can also imagine your concern when you check your beer the day after you've brewed and hear and see no bubbles.
And you'll have asked yourself:
That's a fair question to ask and there are often some simple answers which should arrest any concerns.
It could be that there was a leak that allows the CO2 to escape from the fermenter.
Why are there no bubbles in the airlock?
That's a fair question to ask and there are often some simple answers which should arrest any concerns.
It could be that there was a leak that allows the CO2 to escape from the fermenter.
To teach you to suck rotten eggs, those bubbles in the air lock are carbon dioxide gas, the bi-product of fermentation and so could easily escape if the fermenter is not properly sealed.
You may have not tightened the drum enough or possibly not screwed in the tap properly. It's a good idea to check this is the case before you worry too much about a lack of bubbles.
You may have not tightened the drum enough or possibly not screwed in the tap properly. It's a good idea to check this is the case before you worry too much about a lack of bubbles.
If you didn't see any signs of fermentation it could be that it's too cold to brew.
Is your batch of beer in a warm enough place?
If you're brewing during summer months, it's probably not too cold and your beer will ferment just fine and the bubbles will share in your beer making joy.
If you're brewing during summer months, it's probably not too cold and your beer will ferment just fine and the bubbles will share in your beer making joy.
If you've left your beer in a cold place in the shed, then it may be too cold for fermentation to begin. If this is the case then you might want to consider moving your fermenter inside to a warmer place.
If you insist on keeping the fermenter in your man shed, you could consider wrapping it in blankets or old painting sheets like I do.
This is a handy trick and will help to keep the chill off your homebrew.
You've checked and you have no leaks, so is no bubbles in the airlock really a sign of a lack of fermentation?
So don't go drowning your sorrows just yet if the bubbles haven't started.
If you think that your beer hasn't started brewing there's some very easy problem solving you can try.
Look for the scum
You can look for a dark scum that rings around the 'water level' mark. It's easy to see with a glass fermenter but you should still be able to see it with a plastic drum.
If the scum is sticking to the side, at the top of the water line, you can be pretty confident that fermentation is underway and your beer will be just fine!
You can also check for signs of foam. A nice foam at the top of the water line also indicates that fermentation is taking place. If you have to open the drum to do this, make it quick and try not to sneeze in it.
You can also check for signs of foam. A nice foam at the top of the water line also indicates that fermentation is taking place. If you have to open the drum to do this, make it quick and try not to sneeze in it.
So I'm pretty sure fermentation has not occurred. What happened?
Give it 20 - 48 hours before you start to worry about a lack of bubbles or signs of fermentation.
Then you may wish to consider other things that could have occurred.
When you pitched the yeast, did you add it to a wort that was at the right temperature? If your wort was too hot and not cooled properly, your yeast may have died due to the heat.
If you think you killed your yeast, you can always re-pitch with another set.
Was your yeast fresh? If you were using an old packet, the yeast may have lost its spark and not have enough viable units to begin fermenting. If so, add a fresher yeast.
Did you rinse out the sanitizer?
As an expert beer brewer, we KNOW you carefully sanitized the fermenter and all the equipment you used. But did you rinse it off it was the kind that needed it? If you cleaned with bleach, you need to rinse otherwise the residue could have killed your yeast.
How much water should I add to the airlock?
Give it a fair amount of water, at least half full. Brews that cause a bit of gas pressure can draw water back into the fermenter - if this happens simply refill the airlock. Fun point, some brewers get so freaked out about bacteria and contamination they use vodka instead of water.
Do I even need to use an airlock?
Airlocks are designed to allow the release of CO2 from the fermenter in a manner that prevents oxygen and bugs or bacteria entering the beer. So from that perspective, it is wise to use an airlock.
You can of course decline to use them, after, all beer was made well before plastic was invented!
You just need to keep your gas exit point clean - when I once broke an airlock (snap!) I simply used a paper towel stuffed into the hole - gas could still escape but no spiders could get in ;)
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