In time for Christmas?

[MightyMouth]

Well I think my first effort isn't going too well, I have had a hard time keeping it up to a reasonable temperature as I am working all day and swmbo apparently has ice water for blood so doesn't need the heat on at all during the day. I opened it to give it a bit of a stir and it smells a bit rank really, not vinegary just strange. Its very cloudy and is bubbling only about 12 times a minute, it only had a small foamy head for the first day and now looks flat.

I have nothing to lose letting it continue but think the first effort has been wasted.

There is a silver lining however. Due to the fact I cant keep the TC warm enough I now know that I will need a heater for my Wherry so am going to get a submersible fish tank style heater before I make it up.

[MightyMouth]

What were you expecting at day 3 ? Sounds normal to me.

Well, to be honest I didn't know what to expect but it never really seems to have gotten started, I see people talking about a massive head and bubbling like the clappers in the first day or two and this never did that. Its actually going at more like 6 times a minute now that I actually count it but its more the smell than anything, the first day it smell appley but now it smells, well I don't really know how to describe it but it certainly doesn't smell like something I want to drink. In fact it smells more like something I already drank.

BTW, assuming it takes a minute to write a reply, you have spent more 12 days replying on these forums.

[MightyMouth]

Stop counting bubbles and come back to it once it's been in there for a week. It will start to resemble cider at this point but you can't do anything to speed it up and watching it wont help.

Ok, Ill do that.

there's only about 10mins worth reading though

That would explain some of the replies I have read :

[Curious Brew]

A cooler temperature wont hurt it, in fact a longer slower fermentation is reputed to improve the flavour.

Weird smells are the order of the day, don't expect them to remain once the brew has had a week or two to mature.

[booldawg]

LOL, had to do a double take on MM photo. I thought the Christmas brew-fairies had broken into my house to make me some TC; we have the exact same kitchen units/worktop

[MightyMouth]

Well it wasn't ready in time for Christmas, though that was due mainly to procrastination, but it should be ready for New Year's Eve. In fact its drinkable now albeit flat so into 2x2lt PET bottles it went with 2 tsp sugar. I have poured 4lt of pineapple juice on top of the sludge after pouring about half of the sludge out so well see how that goes.

SWMBO is quite impressed with it so all good on the home front tonight.

[MightyMouth]

I think maybe I used too much yeast in the second batch, Its foamed up like crazy and shot the top of the mini airlock I was using which hit the ceiling in the kitchen. Anyway no worries about this one not fermenting, ittle be done tomorrow at this rate.

Also, concerning the first batch which is now in the bottles, how long should I expect carbonation to take?