I started a Coopers European lager brew on Friday evening (22/6) and just checked this morning and there doesn`t seem to be anything happening.I can see through the FV if fermentation has started or not and it currently looks dead.
I have done everything right afaik.The temperature at the start was 26 and now it is 24.All my previous brews have had the big foam head within 24 hours.
Is it still a bit early or can it be saved?
Cheers
Fermentation problem?
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Kev888
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Re: Fermentation problem?
Hi,
were your previous brews the same kit? I believe coopers use an actual lager yeast, this can be slower to start and to ferment so its probably too early to get really concerned. Maybe crack the lid and (observing sanitation) see if theres any sign of activity on the surface, there may not be visible piles of foam for a while. If nothing by monday perhaps a dash to the local home brew shop for some more yeast would be in order
BTW, being a lager yeast it would normally be fermented cooler - 24c is a bit warm even for ale yeasts, this one is designed to tollerate reasonably high temperatures for a lager yeast, but even so.. I'd try to get it below say 20c if you have a cooler room
Cheers
kev
were your previous brews the same kit? I believe coopers use an actual lager yeast, this can be slower to start and to ferment so its probably too early to get really concerned. Maybe crack the lid and (observing sanitation) see if theres any sign of activity on the surface, there may not be visible piles of foam for a while. If nothing by monday perhaps a dash to the local home brew shop for some more yeast would be in order
BTW, being a lager yeast it would normally be fermented cooler - 24c is a bit warm even for ale yeasts, this one is designed to tollerate reasonably high temperatures for a lager yeast, but even so.. I'd try to get it below say 20c if you have a cooler room
Cheers
kev
Kev
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dweb
Re: Fermentation problem?
Same kit as previous brews which have all been IPA.
I`ll move it to a slightly cooler space and see what happens.
Thanks for the response
I`ll move it to a slightly cooler space and see what happens.
Thanks for the response
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Kev888
- So far gone I'm on the way back again!
- Posts: 7701
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:22 pm
- Location: Derbyshire, UK
Re: Fermentation problem?
Ah, I see - the IPAs would have used a different yeast variety to this european lager, so they would probably have taken off quicker; fingers crossed that its just that.
The cooler fermenting temperature will help it taste better, rather than be responsible for it not starting. I'm not sure what the maximum pitching temperature for this yeast is though, as yours was quite high and I'm no expert with this kit/yeast..
Cheers
kev
The cooler fermenting temperature will help it taste better, rather than be responsible for it not starting. I'm not sure what the maximum pitching temperature for this yeast is though, as yours was quite high and I'm no expert with this kit/yeast..
Cheers
kev
Kev
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dweb
Re: Fermentation problem?
I`ve been checking daily to see if it`s ready to bottle but there is always a slight variation in the reading.It`s dropped to 1010 from 1014 in a week and there still seems to be signs of ongoing fermenting.Is this normal to take so long?
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dweb
Re: Fermentation problem?
Settled at 1010 so I bottled it!
A week in the dark in the house, then 2 weeks in the garage so should be ready for our caravan trip to Cork. Have plenty of IPA on standby just in case.
A week in the dark in the house, then 2 weeks in the garage so should be ready for our caravan trip to Cork. Have plenty of IPA on standby just in case.