The opposite of a stuck fermentation problem

[somemofo]

So, as most people do, I freaked out when my first batch stopped bubbling after just a few days. Everyone here calmed me down and the beer turned out just fine.

Now, on my second batch, I have a different fermentation concern. I put it in the primary 18 days ago. it started like a champ, within 12 hours and went strong for several day. Eventually, it slowed and then stopped. As I am learning the art of patience, I've let it sit almost 2 weeks since visible activity stopped.

Today, something caught my eye. I sat and waited to see if it happened again or if my eyes were paying tricks on me. Sure enough, my airlock is bubbling again, on day 18. Is this normal? Should I be concerned, excited, indifferent? Should I wait until it stops again, before I rack it?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Joe

 

[Erroneous]

Best thing to do is take gravity readings. Airlock activity is notoriously unreliable. Wait until gravity readings don't change for 3 days before bottling. I assume you aren't adding anything to secondary like dry hops, fruit, etc so you don't need to secondary.

 

[somemofo]

Actually, it's based on a magic hat #9 clone, which calls for apricot flavor either at bottling or secondary. I will have to double check, but I think the recipe said to add it when I'm adding priming sugar for bottling.

 

[lalnx]

if you are adding apricot extract for your clone, just add it when you add your sugar for bottling, or to the keg.

I would bet your beer has been done, and that for what ever reason your room temp has risen slightly, causing your beer to off gas a little CO2 from solution, causing some bubbling.

 

[aiptasia]

^ this.

No concerns here. When your gravity readings are stable for 2-3 days in a row, the primary fermentation is done. Giving the beer an extra week in the primary for a diacetyl rest will help.

 

[WoodlandBrew]

My money is on off-gassing as well. It's normal.