[cloptrop]

Anyone?

[stevenmu]

Originally Posted by cloptrop

I used a condom as an air lock.

Wow, you're really dedicated to the authentic experience

AFAIK condoms aren't air tight, so it probably takes a good bit of CO2 to keep them inflated. During initial fermentation a lot of CO2 is given off, but this will normally (for a regular beer anyway) slow down after a few days. It will still be fermenting, just at a slower rate, and giving off much less CO2. Your brew could still be working away and just not giving off enough CO2 to keep the condom inflated. If the recipe calls for 3 weeks, I'd be inclined to give it that long, even though it doesn't look active.

[cloptrop]

Lets say i stuck it in the freezer last night?
Would i just get a far smaller alcohol volume or have i fecked it right up?
Was working for a week and a half.

[BeerNut]

You've probably killed the yeast. Ice crystals puncture the cell walls and they die.

[cloptrop]

But will alcohol have been already created but in a smaller amount , or will i just get loads of nearly made alcohol .
eg the fermentation process only makes the alcohol on the third week.

[BeerNut]

Originally Posted by cloptrop

But will alcohol have been already created

Yes.

[cloptrop]

Cool I just have to figure out how to get rid of the scum out of the bottom

[Sky King]

Sounds delicious.

[Ronan cork]

i'm actually having a fantastic bottle of homebrew at the moment that a customer gave me and it's got me tempted to give it a try...the only thing im worried about is the smell as i live in an apartment and would have to keep it in my room and the door is usually closed...is anybody brewing in their bedroom and if so do your clothes etc smell like stale beer? would it be advisable or should i wait until i have a bigger place?
thanks

[BeerNut]

It doesn't smell. Well, some Belgian and cider yeasts can produce a bit of a pong for the first couple of days, but most don't. Certainly none of them leave a smell on anything.

[Krusty_Clown]

I'm about to bottle my second batch, and you wouldn't even know it was there, except for the occasional bubbling (which has woken me up the odd time, despite the fact that I brew downstairs and sleep upstairs (I'm a very light sleeper!).

[Ronan cork]

could i use an aquarium heater to keep a constant temp during fermentation? i've one for a 50L tank lying around. you can set the temp on it from 18-30

[BeerNut]

Originally Posted by Ronan cork

could i use an aquarium heater to keep a constant temp during fermentation?

No idea. Why would you need that? Do you live in a greenhouse? Normal room temperature (17-22C) is perfect for ale fermentation.

[Ronan cork]

Originally Posted by BeerNut

No idea. Why would you need that? Do you live in a greenhouse? Normal room temperature (17-22C) is perfect for ale fermentation.

Well no but I do like to air the place out every now and again! Was my understanding that a constant temp is very important so had been looking at brew belts and submursible heater things on the homebrew sites and they seem similar to aquarium heaters...

[BeerNut]

Originally Posted by Ronan cork

Was my understanding that a constant temp is very important

Are you maybe thinking of wine cellaring? No such requirement for beer-making. Just don't let it get too warm, is all.

People had been brewing beer for centuries before it was even possible to measure temperature, never mind keep it steady.