coopers lager stuck

[brysie]

hi again folks
started a coopers lager kit on thursday after following the instructions to the letter.
had a 2 inch foam head on it straight away.
24 hours later 2 inches of foam but no bubbles through the airlock.
gently roused the yeast, 24 hours later- no change.
just added some yeast nutrient to see if that will help but wondered if anyone might have any other suggestions?

[brysie]

howay lads

no one with any advice?
its beer were talking about here

[quietman]

It's Saturday night, they obviously have better things to do, only us saddo's online . I'm afraid I'm a newbie so no help here, sorry.

Regards, Ian

[quietman]

I've just read this:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3523

Regards, Ian

[brysie]

thanks ian.
perhaps we both need to get a life.
absolutely nothing happening with me brew tho....

[sparky Paul]

With foam after 24hrs, it does sound like it's fermenting. It's not unusual for fermenter lids to not be a perfect seal, especially the bucket type - hence no bubbles through the trap.

Have you got a hydrometer to take gravity readings? If so, what was the starting gravity, and has it changed - a falling gravity reading is the only 100% certain method to check for fermentation. The Cooper's kits rarely, if ever, suffer from the 'stuck fermentation' syndrome.

[brysie]

hey sparky paul
ive checked the seal and its good. doesnt make any sense does it?
might be the yeast i suppose.

[sparky Paul]

hey sparky paul
ive checked the seal and its good. doesnt make any sense does it?
might be the yeast i suppose.

Could be a dead yeast, but the foam sounds a bit suspicious. I would expect any foam from mixing up to have died down by now, so if you still have a good foam head it would guess it is actually fermenting - I would still suspect the seal.

You could part the foam with a sterilised implement to see if you can see any bubbles rising. If not, then you need to pitch another yeast as soon as possible. Also, if you haven't got a hydrometer, I would invest a few pounds in one - they really do help you a great deal.

[brysie]

cheers kiddo.
think i might try another yeast in the mornin.

thanks again.

[brysie]

hey sparky paul

did as you suggested and got hydrometer and this morning it reads 1006 so that suggests it has been fermenting
doesnt it? it looks rather cloudy though and i think i might be to blame because i roused the yeast when i thought it was stuck.
and i take my hat off to you because the gas must have been escaping {although i cant see where} just like you said.
probably bottle in the next couple of days if the reading stays constant, fingers crossed

thanks again.

[brysie]

cheers.
ive read some stuff about finings and clearing agents and wondered what the expert opinions are?
or would you say to let nature take its own course?

thanks again

[brysie]

think ive found my answers on some other posts.

thanks again

[brysie]

right. thats my first kit in over 20 years, bottled and put in the spare room to complete secondary fermentation.
apart from my obvious newbie errors it seems to have gone ok. smells good, tastes...ok and with a bit of luck, should
be just about ready for crimbo.

many thanks for everyones help on here. ill raise the first one to you on christmas day.
cheers, brysie.