I am experimenting with adding strawberries in the secondary to a hefeweizen. I brewed a 5 gallon batch of hefe, fermented for 5 days in primary and split the batch into two separate secondaries--one normal, one with 3 lbs of pasterized/crushed strawberries.
The non-strawberry secondary is finishing fermentation as expected (fair amount of airlock bubbling, residual krausen). The strawberry one has a significant krausen (expected), but VERY little airlock activity! I thought that the airlock may have a leak, so replaced it but having the same issue. All visual indications of the batch appears to be working fine, but I can't understand why I would not have much CO2 byproducts???
Any ideas what is going on?
P.S. I am using WYeast Wheihenstephan yeast. Again all visual indicators looks normal--above average krausen . . .
Big Krausen with little Bubbling in Airlock
Moderator: slothrob
I use a plastic, food-grade bucket fermenter:
http://www.hoptech.com/cart/cart.php?ta ... ory_id=272
It has a air tight locking lid and uses a rubber stopper with the airlock that from all visual inspections appears pretty tight fitting. If I press down on the lid, the normal bubbling vents correctly through the airlock.
Never had an issue in the past, but I guess the CO2 has to be getting out from somewhere . . .
Maybe it waits for me to stop watching it and then vents!
http://www.hoptech.com/cart/cart.php?ta ... ory_id=272
It has a air tight locking lid and uses a rubber stopper with the airlock that from all visual inspections appears pretty tight fitting. If I press down on the lid, the normal bubbling vents correctly through the airlock.
Never had an issue in the past, but I guess the CO2 has to be getting out from somewhere . . .
Maybe it waits for me to stop watching it and then vents!
That must explain it
Bill,
Thanks. That has to be the story. I guess I can still rely on the layer of CO2 to protect the beer . . .
Thanks. That has to be the story. I guess I can still rely on the layer of CO2 to protect the beer . . .