Fermentation

[Norman__Snorz]

I am using BD 2 gallon fermenter brewing their Weizenbier. It has been fermenting for 1 week so far. I drew out a sample to check the gravity and noticed some carbonation. This is the first time this has happened..is this possible? And what should I do? Lol. Thanx for the feedback

[mashani]

It is normal for there to be some residual carbonation in recently fermented wort. Depending on temperature, more or less co2 will remain in solution. Henry's Law / gas laws thing. It is why really accurate CO2 calculators will ask you what your ambient temperature is to calculate sugar to be used to reach a precise level of carbonation.

There is nothing to worry about, just bottle when gravity is stable as usual.

[HerbMeowing]

thoughts on drawing hydro-samples from small batch sizes ...

- drawing enough wort for a hydrometer reading wastes beer. multiple samples waste more beer.
- returning the sample to fermentor after testing risks contamination. (FULL DISCLOSURE: been done without ill effect)
- tracking fermentation with a refractometer doesn't waste beer.

many will let their wort ferment for 14 - 21 days ... don't test and assume (correctly) it's done ... test for FG then goto bottle-up.

[mashani]

One other thing that doesn't waste much is to pull a sample into a hydrometer sample tube (that doesn't leak), test it with a sanitized hydrometer, then cap it with a breathable foam stopper (like a lab stirplate flask would be using) or just cover it with foil that hangs over the edges. And then just test that sample again in a few days. Once that sample stops fermenting, your beer is going to be done as well assuming you keep them in the same place so temperature is the same, and you only pulled one sample.