No signs of fermentation and it's the 6th day

[RIP]

I'm on my 3rd brew which is a Coopers Australian pale ale. I put the 500g spraymalt and 500g dextrose mix in with the boiling water and at 21C with 20 litres of water, put in the yeast, then added more hot water and cool water to 23 litres. I stirred it all up well to aerate.
There's not been a single bubble through the airlock for 6 days, with the room temp being between 18c and 21c. Just opened the ferm bin and there are a few white bubbles on the surface. My last brew, a coopers draught frothed out of the airlock although for this I added too much water, leaving little air space in the ferm bucket. The F bucket was not supplied with an airlock, I added it, could it be that the brew has fermented, with the gas going through the lid seal instead of the airlock? The lid seal doesnt seem as good as an older fermentation bin I have, so maybe they are designed to let the gas out easy?
Any help will be appreciated as if the brew is a waste, I will start another one with Xmas coming up.

[6470zzy]

I am not so sure that I could have standed waiting for 6 whole days without a bubble through my airlock

I believe that if you have a packet of Nottingham handy, now would be the ideal time to rehydrate it and toss it in.

Cheers

[Ditch]

Six Days?! Jesus! How does it smell? Try drawing off a drop and daring the Taste Test too ~ if nothing about a sniff makes ye eyes water!

That notwithstanding? Yeppers; Nothing to be lost by chucking in a fresh packet of yeast.

But, six days .....

[expertbeerdrinker]

you could have a bung batch... did you use the yeast in the kit or use fresh yeast as recommended ?

[RIP]

I used the yeast in the kit. Is it worth putting some more yeast in? Smelt the brew last night and seems OK

[OldSpeckledBadger]

What SG is the hydrometer giving?

[jubby]

I would imagine that it has fermented and you had a poorly sealed lid/airlock as you suspected. The only way to check for sure is to measure the gravity, if it's not dropped, then add yeast as above.

Check your lid and airlock by very gently squeezing your FV to see if it leaks/bubbles. The FV doesn't need to be a perfect seal unless you like bubbles

[RIP]

Thanks for the replies. Just checked the SG and it reads 1.006, there's a blue marking at the top of the hyrdrometer, yellow in the middle and red at the bottom, the line of the brew is just at the bottom of the yellow banding. I did notice there were a few bubbles rising in the hydro jar, does this mean it is still fermenting? BTW it tastes good, so Jubby, looks like you are right

[steve_flack]

It's probably finished fermenting but check the gravity again tomorrow and if it's still 1.006 it has.

[chris_reboot]

you've most likely not got it sealed up properly so gas is escaping somewhere other than the airlock.
no big deal, check the hydro for readings to gauge it though.

[RIP]

you've most likely not got it sealed up properly so gas is escaping somewhere other than the airlock.
no big deal, check the hydro for readings to gauge it though.

It's a new ferm bucket that came without an airlock, I fitted one, so it may be the case that the bucket is designed to easily let the gas out of the lid and this may be an easier route to take than the airlock.

[kippa7]

Having a similar issue, altho ive found its not a problem.
Ive now brewed 3 Muntons kits and i have about 4 buckets with airlock lids.

My first brew (pilsner) bubbled away pretty well.

My second two, no bubbling at all. Worried me a bit but after taking HR's there was a significant movement, so fermentation was certainly happening.

This must mean that my bucket lids are letting air out doesnt it? I know its not a problem, but theres something satisfying about hearing your beer bubbling isnt there!!!lol

Can anyone advise a more expensive bucket with airtight lid? As i just have the standard 3 for £15 ones at the moment.??
They do the trick, but i would prefer my ferment to be air tight - out of preference!

[scottmoss]

Having a similar issue, altho ive found its not a problem.
Ive now brewed 3 Muntons kits and i have about 4 buckets with airlock lids.

My first brew (pilsner) bubbled away pretty well.

My second two, no bubbling at all. Worried me a bit but after taking HR's there was a significant movement, so fermentation was certainly happening.

This must mean that my bucket lids are letting air out doesnt it? I know its not a problem, but theres something satisfying about hearing your beer bubbling isnt there!!!lol

Can anyone advise a more expensive bucket with airtight lid? As i just have the standard 3 for £15 ones at the moment.??
They do the trick, but i would prefer my ferment to be air tight - out of preference!

Hi,

I got this one from leyland homebrew and find it excellent! It's very air tight and came with a fitted tap (Asked them for it) It is also 30ltr in size.

[RIP]

I got my bucket from leyland, good shop just up the road from me, It's a cheaper one than that though. I've bottled the pale ale this afternoon and it seems fine. Started a coopers stout this afternoon in an older ferm bucket which is more airtight, although I've heard a few rumours that the stout can blow the lid off when fermenting so it should be bubbling well soon

[simple one]

I would imagine that it has fermented and you had a poorly sealed lid/airlock as you suspected. The only way to check for sure is to measure the gravity, if it's not dropped, then add yeast as above.

Check your lid and airlock by very gently squeezing your FV to see if it leaks/bubbles. The FV doesn't need to be a perfect seal unless you like bubbles

Totally! I stick blutack round the base of my airlocks to improve the seal of air lock to lid.