Help me plan my kegging/drinking schedule

TheMarquis · 03-24-2010, 03:27 PM

I've got an IPA that spent two weeks in the primary before I dry-hopped it with an ounce of hops a couple days ago. After dry-hopping I did a lot of reading that made me wish I left it in the primary for another week before I dry-hopped, but what's done is done. My plan all along had been to dry-hop for 7 days, keg, put it in the fridge, set the gas at serving pressure and forget it for two weeks. I'm questioning now whether or not I'll have green beer at the end of the two weeks or not and how long it will really take before the beer is truly ready.

One thing I'm considering is letting the dry-hop go for 10 days total to give it a bit more time in the primary and proceed with the original plan from there. I'm afraid of getting grassy flavors with that option though. Another option is to keg after the 7 day dry-hop, top it off with C02 and let it condition at room temperature for a week or two before putting it in the fridge.

Am I over-thinking it?

mightynintendo · 03-24-2010, 03:38 PM

Did you take a hydrometer reading? Was it done fermenting? If so, I wouldn't be too worried about taking it out of the primary after 2 weeks. I think you should let it sit for 7 days in the secondary then keg it, attach it to the CO2 line to carbonate to your desired level, and keep it refrigerated the whole time. After a week pull off a glass or two to get rid of any sediment and by then i'm sure it will be ready.

tamoore · 03-24-2010, 03:44 PM

I think you're over thinking it.

The guys on the Brew Strong show seem to suggest that once it's done fermenting, you leave it 'clean up' for a couple of days, and the rack to secondary to dry hop (if you're going to do that), and then after a week, it's ready to package......

On this forum, I'm hearing different. But JZ and JP seem to have won a ton of awards doing this stuff..... There really is a lot of conflicting info out there. I'm confused by it, but I'm going to go with JP, and then modify as I like/dislike my results...

Good luck!

TheMarquis · 03-24-2010, 03:48 PM

Yes I took readings and it was done fermenting. I never used a secondary though. Dry-hopped it right in the primary.

mightynintendo · 03-24-2010, 03:52 PM

Dry hopping in the primary is fine. Most people usually rack to a secondary before dry hopping but it doesn't matter really. Yeah I'd just leave it then at room temp for a week or so and then keg it, chill it, carbonate! A week in the cold keg and it will probably be ready to go. I think IPA's are best when they're new so drink up!

tamoore · 03-24-2010, 04:01 PM

I have to dry hop this Thursday... I might just toss in the primary after I take a sample for FG... I like that a lot better than the risk of oxidization and contamination by going to a secondary....

CarsonCE · 03-24-2010, 09:25 PM

I find that IPA's are better the earlier you drink them (within reason, I'm not talking about the second day of fermentation). A lot of people on here feel the same way. IPA's tend to lose their aroma hops pretty quickly.

Enjoy your IPA in 2-3 weeks!