First time bottling...

[TheCartelli]

So tomorrow I am supposed to bottle my first home brew, the Caribou Slobber Brown Ale from Northern Brewer. There is no activity going on in the jug for a few days now, at least visibly. There is a pretty thick layer on the bottom of the jug and a small amount of excess floating on top. Is it all systems go or should I wait a little longer (its been two weeks)? Total newby question I know but I want to nail this so I have confidence to attempt more. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[DocScott]

The only way to know is to check the gravity a few days in a row. If it's stable, it is done. If it continues to drop, wait longer.

If you do not have a hydrometer, you should buy one for your next brew. MOST beers should be done in 2 weeks assuming good fermentation conditions, but you can't know for certain without measuring gravities.

 

[eadavis80]

If you have not taken a gravity reading, I would wait another week just in case. the last thing you want on any beer - let alone your first - is bottle bombs.

 

[TheCartelli]

I do have a hydrometer, my wife just got me one haha, I'm just not very familiar with the process.

 

[C-Rider]

Check the SG twice w/one day in between. If no change then the "ferment" is done, but the yeast might not be done cleaning themselves up. So I'm for a three week wait before bottling. You should get a cleaner beer if you don't suck up trub when you rack.

 

[TheCartelli]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to let it sit another week for sure.

 

[TheCartelli]

Bottled it up tonight. The auto-siphon definitely defeated me but eventually I was successful. Tasted it too and was beyond thrilled at how good it was. Let the waiting begin!

 

[TasunkaWitko]

Another week won't hurt!

 

[TheCartelli]

Opened one up tonight. Definitely not as carbonated as I would have liked, pretty much zero head but it tasted great. Going to let the rest sit another week and try again.

 

[C-Rider]

Opened one up tonight. Definitely not as carbonated as I would have liked, pretty much zero head but it tasted great. Going to let the rest sit another week and try again.

Well you are a bit less than 2 weeks in to conditioning so don't worry yet.

 

[TheCartelli]

Tried another one tonight. Definitely some more carbonation in there but when I poured it out the head pretty much disintegrated within seconds. Thoughts, opinions or suggestions?

 

[meatcleaver]

It's been my experience that more time in the bottle = better head formation & retention. my beers are very well carbed @ 2-3 wks but not much head til 6-8 wks.
also, it seems that more chill time helps as well. 2 wks in the fridge is better than a day or two.

 

[meatcleaver]

Caribou Slobber @ 7 months in the bottle