Mycoe

Recipes 

Right people I know I'm being impatient, but....
I bottled my first ever batch of coopers home brew lager last Thursday. It says leave for at least 2 weeks in the bottles, better still up to 3 months, what's the earliest I can crack one open to see what it tastes like?? I don't want to arrange an unveiling night in a few weeks and this stuff not have worked properly or taste funny??

davekippen

Recipes 

The short answer is you can open one immediately after you cap it

I usually open one at one week just to see how its doing. Then again in another week. Then i put some in the fridge. Then (depending on style) they are usually ready to go. I like to do that so I can learn how beers change with age.

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Mycoe

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Thanks Dave, do you put the first couple you try in the fridge or just open and drink at room temp??

davekippen

Recipes 

I always refrigerate them at least overnight. The longer they are chilled the better the carbonation is. Once they are carbed to the level that I like, I will begin putting 6packs in the fridge for normal consumption!

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Qhrumphf

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Best practice is 3 weeks for full carbonation, minimum. And that's assuming you're storing at 70 degrees. If you store cooler than that, it will take longer, and some beers will take longer regardless. That said, I usually crack one open at a week, then let the rest go at least 3 weeks.

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beergolf

Recipes 

For your first brew go ahead and taste one at 2 weeks. Always give them, at least 24 hours in the fridge, 48 hours is better. This helps get the carbonation into the brew. You will quickly learn that the beers are much better at 3 weeks and even better at 4.

Learning the art of patience is the hardest part of brewing.


Brew more and get a good pipeline going and you will find it easy to let them sit. I have a big pipeline and often forget about a beer for a long time, since I have plenty to drink. Some styles I like to drink when they are fresh. IPA's for example taste best when the hop flavor and aroma is fresh. Belgians benefit from some long term aging.

Congrats on your first brew and welcome to the forum. This place is a great wealth of information about brewing.

nearbeer83

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I like this idea , just bottled my first beer a week ago and i am very impatient about it. There is a fine layer of yeast at the bottom of the bottles so i know they're carbing up. I think i'll take this advice and run with it, can't wait to taste my first homebrew!

pelipen

Recipes 

If you are going to be impatient, do yourselves a favor. Take really good notes on what you taste, mouthfeel, head retention, etc. Then stash a few bottles away until May, put in the fridge until June, then try one and read your old notes. You'll see why time is your friend. Doesn't apply to styles best consumed young, like IPA or hefes.

By this time, hopefully you have brewed three more batches.

Mycoe

Recipes 

Right people, I put a bottle in the fridge this morning, I've just opened one now... DISAPPOINTMENT!!
its completely flat, is this normal as its only 1 week?? I put in 1 carbination drop as cooper recommended...

philly224

Recipes 

I opened up my first brew after one week and it gushed out of the top and the beer was flat. Took notes on that, waited another week and it was carbed up pretty good! I think its just about ready but I am going to wait until at least week 3 to start drinking it.


My advice would be open one each week and take some notes, its been an interesting experience seeing how it changes each week for me.