Hey guys,

brewing my second batch in my Cooper's kit and again I've got no bubbles in the airlock but I can tell it's fermenting as I've got the ring of scum etc. What's confusing though is that the seal must be pretty good as even lightly squeezing the sides or pushing on the lid makes the levels change in the airlock... wouldn't that indicated a good enough seal to get bubbles? Not too worried about it, just a bit perplexed!

Put it in on Sunday morning and it's hovering around 26-28 so I'm guessing it'll be 4-5 days... just need to buy a new hydrometer as I dropped mine yesterday

It really barely takes a leak to avoid bubbles in the airlock. It'll still "bubble" when you push on the lid because that causes sudden pread ssure. You could try putting a really good tape around the bucket lid just to see, but it's really not worth worrying about.

There's a rule about hydrometers: If you own one, you'll break it at a really bad time. If you own two, you'll never break one.

Bad time is right, we were in the middle of making a roast dinner when I dropped it and suddenly the kitchen floor was covered with sharp pieces of glass!

I'll leave my beer to do it's thing, next time maybe I'll use some food safe lubricant or something to help seal it.

I still find comfort in seeing the bubbles! But, usually, I just check it the day after brewing to make sure it's going, and then forget about it for awhile.

mattlacey wrote:...maybe I'll use some food safe lubricant or something to help seal it.

Or get yourself a carboy! I'm not knocking buckets, but from the large amount of no-bubbles posts, it seems like they only work marginally at best. Besides, I really like being able to pick up a towel and see my beer. Is it beginning to ferment? Is it almost finished fermenting? Is it still too cloudy to rack to a keg? Man, you gotta love a carboy!

curlyfat wrote:.... usually, I just check it the day after brewing to make sure it's going, and then forget about it for awhile.

Same here. I work offshore, so sometimes I leave it for weeks at a time unattended. The more I brew, the more I realize how very careless you can be and still make great beer!