Bottle before or after holiday?

[venquessa]

My lager experiment no. 1 has had 12 days ferment at 12*C + 2 days ferment at 20*C + approaching 2 weeks lagering at 4-6*C.

I am heading on holiday for close to 2 weeks. I figure if I bottle it on Thursday night, it will have had nearly 2 weeks in bottles by the time I return. Making it at least sampling age as a post-holiday treat.

As this is just an experiment do you think it will likely gain anything from another 2 weeks lagering at 2-6*C?

I'm slightly concerned it could be completely rubbish and I've just wasted another 2 weeks.

 

[homebrewdad]

Qualifier: I have never done a lager. I may be talking out of the incorrect orifice.

That being said, 12 days + 2 weeks is about right for an ale. Ales are famously much quicker to make than lagers... I hear that the word lager means "get ready to wait". I wouldn't think your lager would be anywhere near ready yet.

Again, though, refer to my orifice comment above.

 

[PIGMAN]

Keep it going for at least another 2 weeks. Can't rush a lager, or any beer for that matter. Why is this an experiment? It seems as though you are following the correct procedure so far. Bottling it now would turn it into an experiment, and I don't think you'd like the results. Happy holiday.