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Questions tagged [fermentation]

The anaerobic process by which yeast convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

In brewing, the term 'fermentation' usually encompasses an entire process, starting when yeast is pitched into wort and ending when final gravity has been reached and yeast has reduced undesirable flavors to acceptable levels.

Fermentation more generally refers to the physiological state in which yeast gain metabolic energy in the absence of oxygen, by reducing simple sugars mainly to carbon dioxide and ethanol. Fermentation is much less efficient than respiration (which occurs in the presence of oxygen) for producing cellular energy.

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Is it possible to over-ferment?

My first batch started fermenting 8 days ago. The beer is still fresh and very cloudy, but I'm wondering if its possible to over-ferment a beer? If I let it sit for another 2 weeks (or however long, the length of time is unimportant to the actual…
Mike Fielden
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Something in the fermentation chamber made my nose hurt

So last night I checked on my porter, 48 hours on fermentation with Wyeast 1968, bubbling away happily. My ferm chamber is a small chest freezer. Got a blowoff tube running from the top of the bucket down to a quart or so of StarSan (leftovers from…
Galapagos Jim
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Is it okay to move the beer while its fermenting?

I just started my very first batch of beer, so I am a big noobie. Earlier today I checked the temperature of the keg and it seemed a little high (74F) so I decided to try moving it somewhere else. Afterwards though I was wondering to myself if its…
Metropolis
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Fermentation locations

Where is the ideal place to ferment my beer? Possible locations for me are: Extra room inside Garage Back porch Of those three places, which would be the best overall place?
Mike Fielden
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What are the downside of a super-quick fermentation?

As it can be seen in this Q/A many beginner brewers observe a bloomed fermentation, excessive for one day, then no sign of fermentation but by measuring the gravity. I recently got this problem for a german style wheatbeer. The beer itself ended-up…
Benoit
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Why is a quiet environment recommended?

I'm brewing beer from a recipe kit, and the instructions say to put the fermenting bucket into a dark, quiet and warm place. I do understand dark (because of UV) and warm (optimal temperature for the yeast), but I don't understand quiet? The…
Michael Stum
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Primary fermentation taking a long time

I brewed a California Common recipe that I've used successfully in the past on 10/15. I used Wyeast 2112 and made a starter that got going pretty well so I was feeling good about the brew. It's been bubbling in the airlock since then, though it has…
benr
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Should I be worried about my bottles exploding?

Alright, so this is my first batch where I came up with the recipe instead of using a recipe kit, and something seems to have gone wrong. Here are my brewing notes so you can see exactly what I did: So, I brought 3 gallons of water up to a boil,…
Ben Strombeck
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When is fermentation done

So, I'm totally new to homebrewing. About to start my first brew, and it's a complete kit with instructions. Supposedly, it can't go wrong. BUT, it says that fermentation is over in 16 days. I assume this is not an exact number, so how can I tell,…
Nicolai
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Why isn't my gravity increasing? Has fermentation stopped?

About ten days ago I transferred my homebrew (I'm new at this so for now I'm buying the kits) from the primary to the secondary. when I transferred it the gravity was reading 1.025 and it was bubbling vigorously and all was well with the world. I've…
Eric Hollenberg
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Can a Beer Ferment Too Quickly?

My beer seems to be fermenting more quickly than predicted by the kit. The last beer I made was ready (with the correct final gravity) in just under a week rather than the 2 weeks predicted by the kit. The beer I have fermenting right now seems…
DorkRawk
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When is it okay to bottle?

I've brewed literally dozens of Beer House brewkits, but I'm waiting on a Winterfest Ale kit that just won't seem to completely stop secondary fermentation...every other time I made these kits, fermenting is absolutely finished after at most 12 days…
David
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What is the proper method for blending beers?

In regards to this question I've been inspired to take my flat beer and blend it with a new beer. My main question is when is the best time to combine the two beers? Should it be done at the start of primary fermentation or much later? Are there any…
awithrow
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What should I put in my swamp cooler water to retard growth of nasty things?

For the last 2 batches of beer I've used a swamp cooler to cool off the plastic bucket fermenter. The cooling worked well, but on both batches, there was a bit of mold growing on the outside and/or under the rim of the bucket where the wet towel…
Jarett Millard
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What are the best ways to regulate temperature while fermenting?

Possible Duplicate: [WIKI] Fermentation Temperature Control Methods So far I've made about 3 different batches of beer. Two came out good, one, not so good. I think it had to do with the fact that it was winter and I let it get too cold. I was…
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