BrewinHog

Recipes 

I'm new to the game and brewing my first batch. My stopper has crawled to a near halt and I am wondering if it is OK to take a hydrometer reading. It has been in the fermenter for 4 full days. I don't plan on moving it to the secondary until at the earliest Sunday, but I am just not sure if I should take a reading this early. I am brewing a honey cream ale. O.G.=1.042. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Blind Hog Brewing Co.

joe6pack

Recipes 

I'm a fellow noob, but I'd give it a few more days before tampering.

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DutchK9

Recipes 

I would wait. The bubbles in the airlock don't mean fermentation is finished. After 7 days if you want to check go ahead, but I like to leave the beer in the primary for 10 days and then the secondary for 14 days. Alot of people leave the beer in the primary for three to five weeks.

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BrewinHog

Recipes 

Thanks for the advice. I know that the gas bubbles mean nothing, but I just wanted to check. I plan on taking the hydrometer readings three consecutive days and if it is the same, I'll move. I am just sitting here drinking a Sam Adams Cream Stout wondering what my beer tastes like. I was kinda looking forward to a hydrometer sample to drink! Thanks for the advice. I'll take as much as I can get!

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Primary - Empty
Secondary - Dry hopping Blind Hawg Pale Ale
Bottled - Double Chocolate Stout, Honey Cream Ale, AHS Special Holiday Ale
Kegged - Apfelwein, Orange/Cascade Pale Ale

Edcculus

Recipes 

Leave it alone. I'd pass on racking to a secondary after only a week too. If you want, you can take a reading on Sunday. If your sanitation is proper, you will be fine. I like taking samples after a week, 2 weeks etc with random beers. It helps me help to understand how different stages of beer taste. Just don't rush your beer.

BigKahuna

Recipes 

HOLD OFF!
GIVE YOUR BEER 14DAYS!

Sorry didnt' mean to yell...but it's in your own best interest. Even if you're set on using a secondary...and I would not....Leave it for 7 anyway.

I would go 14 and then access the situation. Some kits like to say 4 or 5 or 6 days then secondary for a week or 2 and then bottle...but I like to give that yeast some time to really clean things up.

and don't freak out when you taste the sample...it's going to be green and nasty....taste it...and maybe even make notes...just don't freak out when it doesn't taste like a miller High Life!

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TCHDNSD

Recipes 

Here's the deal, if you want to transfer to 2ndary, go ahead. You'll have plenty of left over yeast to finish the job. I understand the "impatience" to get your first beer out and drink / taste but don't get freaked out by all the EAC's around here to stop your learning. If you want to rack to secondary, go ahead. No harm, no foul. Just remember,You have to drink what you brew. So patience (sp?) is a virtue).

BigKahuna

Recipes 

What mean you?
I understand not what you mean!

EAC's? STOP LEARNING? What?

IF anything...the EAS's around here will encourage you to learn ALL you can about EVERY step of the process! HECK...Look what Yuri and OlllllO have done! 10 From grain to beer...that don't' make NO DAMN SENSE!

(SHUSH! Don't tell anyone that I'm trying too!)

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BrewinHog

Recipes 

If I don't rack to the secondary, how long should I leave it in the primary?

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Primary - Empty
Secondary - Dry hopping Blind Hawg Pale Ale
Bottled - Double Chocolate Stout, Honey Cream Ale, AHS Special Holiday Ale
Kegged - Apfelwein, Orange/Cascade Pale Ale

BigKahuna

Recipes 

I usually keg or bottle at 14 days...I usually wish I'd have waited to 21. Either way you're good.

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