Confused on when to bottle

[eon]

Hi all,

I brewed a black IPA on Friday June 12th. I was planning on dry hopping in Primary if I have time. I am going out of town and leaving on the night of June 27th.

Normally, I do a 3 week primary, bottle for 2 weeks, and then drink.

This time I am not so sure. I thought that people did a shorter primary for IPAs? At first I wanted to bottle after I get back from my trip on July 4th. That would be 22 days. This is still 3 weeks so maybe it will be fine.

So how about I dry hop the day I leave (June 27th) and then I can bottle when I get back (most likely will bottle a few days after so like July 7th).

I know IPAs are best enjoyed fresh so I want to get this thing bottled and into my stomach asap!

Sound good? Any other ideas?

 

[flars]

Dry hop when you get back. It is the aroma from the dry hop that fades first.

 

[catdaddy66]

Bottle after you get back, and after dry hopping for around 7 days. It will be fine. Longer primary is better than shorter. I love this hobby and feel it fits my lazy personality beautifully! Don't wanna bottle/dry hop/secondary? Wait til next week. No worries, mon!

 

[eon]

Cool, thanks for the information!

When I get back I will do this:

Throw in some hops into my Primary and dryhop for 7days. Then bottle for two weeks - then drink!

Thanks again!

 

[MaxStout]

Cool, thanks for the information!

When I get back I will do this:

Throw in some hops into my Primary and dryhop for 7days. Then bottle for two weeks - then drink!

Thanks again!

Don't be alarmed if it tastes a little young after 2 weeks in bottles. If so, give it another week or so and try another. It'll get better.

 

[Gavin C]

I would dry hop the evening before leaving. ( A 2 minute task). You will be back in a week and can bottle a that stage.

I'm an impatient sort though.

Either way is fine I think. A week dryhop is often advocated. I usually do 4-5 days and cold crash for a few days before packaging to the keg.