My batch of homebrew has been bubbling for over a week & is still going strong what does this mean ?

Question

I've never seen it work this long before.Is this a sign that its going to have a high alcohol level?

Answer 1

Fermentation time doesn't necessarily equate to alcohol content. You should have measured specific gravity before pitching your yeast. If you did, you can measure it after fermentation stops (more accurate to check this by gravity readings than by bubbling -- you are looking for no further changes over several days) and calculate alcohol content by the difference in gravity readings. Different yeasts have different levels of activity. Some produce very aggressive bubbling very quickly and drop off within a few days. Others keep fermenting longer with slower rates of bubbles. Both could yield the same alcohol content since that is based upon fermentable sugars in the wort rather than the yeast used.

Answer 2

As long as it is bubbling it means it is still fermenting and that the yeast is still turning the sugars into alcohol. Once the bubbling stops thjat is the end of fermentation because all the sugars have been turned into alcohol or, the alcohol content has reached it's maximum at about 18% - 19% which automatically stops fermentation as the alcohol kills all the yeast cells at that % level. Remaining sugar remains unconverted into alcohol. It is then ready to filter, bottle, and age.

Answer 3

LEAVE IT ALONE!

"if you think youll screw it up, you probably will" - john palmer

you probably used dried yeast, like muntons. its quick acting. its just a sign that you did everything right. how much malt did you use? what was your OG reading? these are things youll need to estimate ABV

oh yeah, its near impossible to get anything over 14-15% ABV unless you spent big bucks, and use tons of yeast and malt. and then its not beer anyway. its barleywine.

Answer 4

no, just means that the yeast is still converting to alcohol. may or may not mean higher alc. levels.