Patience is a virtue

businesstime · 10-01-2009, 03:08 AM

I've had a IIPA in bottles now for 6.5 weeks. I was worried that I botched the recipe because it hadn't been clearing up and the carbonation was less then desirable. I used DME, so that also had me worried.

I've tried a new bottle each week for the past 4 weeks and it was slowly getting better, but still cloudy and under-carbed. Well, tonight, I tried one again, and it seems like my bottles have undergone a metamorphosis overnight!! Wow, it is incredible now! Clearing up nicely and just the right amount of carbonation for a IIPA!

I'm so in love with home brewing now

**Cheeto** · 10-01-2009, 04:29 AM

That is a great mantra to have when it comes to brewing.

Always remember that the last bottle of every batch will be the best one !

also you should try to rat hole a few bottles for the one year plus mark
you will be amazed at how it changes !

-Jason

see also :

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/never-dump-your-beer-patience-virtue-time-heals-all-things-even-beer-73254/

ODaniel · 10-01-2009, 05:05 AM

My IIPA was pretty good, but 4 months after I bottled it it became awesome, and surprisingly didn't lose any hop character. Everything just kinda blended together better over time and it turned out great. Sucks I only had a couple bottles left. Oh well live and learn.

Kungpaodog · 10-01-2009, 05:44 AM

Be careful, sometimes the last bottle isn't always the best. I saved some pale ale and some wheat from my Christmas beers (last Christmas) and they were past their peak after 9 months. Not that I expected them to age well, but it was an expirement worth trying once.