So the krauesen fell 2 days prior to bottling? Did you check SG? Sounds like you did not let the beer finish. Surprised you don't have bottle bombs.
Why cool in the freezer? Sounds like you are impatient. This hobby requires a lot of patience. Let the beer finish. Bottle and chill...
Tyke,
That is the natural progression. The Krauesen (foam) peaks about 2-3 days out as the yeast does its thing. Then it begins to recede. After you are done you will have a ring of it on the side of your bucket. Sometimes they peak higher than you have space for and sometimes they dont...
Got home from work. The setup worked flawlessly. It looks like the kraeusen is starting to settle down. I removed, cleaned and re-sanitized the whole setup. I put it back for now. If it stays clean, I will re-install the normal air lock set up this evening.
Side note - this one smells...
Funny thing. I went and checked on my 2.5 day two-hearted clone in my plastic fermenter. The lid was domed and the air lock full of krausen. I took the air lock off and cleaned and sanitized it. My 1 inch ID tubing fits inside the air lock perfectly. I quickly set up my bucket and now have...
Are you using glass carboy or plastic bucket?
If glass, go to your local Lowe's or whatever. Buy a 4 ft section of 1 inch I.D. clear plastic tubing and a bucket. Fill the bucket with about a gallon of diluted Star San. The tubing will fit inside the neck of the carboy. Place the other end...
I am building a kegerator. I want to continue making 5 gal batches but would like to bottle some and keg some. Is it ok to half or 3/4 fill your keg and bottle the rest? Do you just top off the keg with CO2 to reduce air exposure? I realize this likely makes force carbonation unlikely unless I...
Knowing me I wll dive into it full speed and keep learning. I bought another carboy this week and caribou slobber kit. Now I can ferment 2 at a time. Got it today. Will probably brew it Sunday while I am tending the smoker.
Thanks SPR-GRN (what does that mean, anyway?)
It helps to have veterans on here to re-assure me. I don't know anybody that homebrews. I am getting into this completely blind aside from the readings of "The Complete Joy of Home Brewing", the internet and my passion for knowledge. Unless you...
Yeah, I know. Thanks. It just wasn't the outcome I expected. I thought it would prolong the Kraeusen. I just looked at it again. The bubbling has picked up again. The Temp in the closet is 66. The fermometer temp is 72. It seems to be fine.
Guess I just need to RDWAH(another)HB.
Update: My LHBS recommended adding a pound of DME. Sounds like a good idea since I diluted the batch. I did that last night. Just before adding, the air lock was rockin'. Bubble every second or 2. This morning still very active. By this afternoon, the activity has slowed a lot. I have not...