Day 8 my first brew Red Ale Gravity Help

Hello I started my First Brew last thursday 10/7/11 a True Brew Red Ale, I screwed up my Beginning Gravity I think I didnt mix it well enough. But any way its been a bubbling away in a 6g carboy until today it slowed to 2 min bubbles I took a Gravity reading It was 1.020 at 78deg kit says Final Gravity 1.012 - 1.014 so I should leave it for another week in primary and take another reading and when its in this range I can rack to secondary for a few days to clear then bottle, correct? also what would adding Yeast nutrient do to it at this point?

p.s. after the reading today it started bubbling at 30 second intervals.

Thanks for any help!!!

 

I would give it at least another week. Also, there is really no reason to rack to secondary. Just leave it in the primary for another week or so until the gravity readings are consistent, then you are ready to bottle. The bottles should condition for at least 3 weeks at about 70 degrees.

 

Once you get a stable FG within range,let it sit another 3-5 days in primary to clean up & settle out more. It'll taste better by letting the yeast clean up their by products. Letting it settle more will give you clearer beer from the start & still have plenty to carbonate it.

 

Also - don't bother with "measuring" the rate that your brew is bubbling. Bubbling is not a good measure (sometimes not at all a measure) of fermentation. Only your hydrometer (like you're already using!) is a measure of that.

That said, checking it at 8 days is just adding extra risk of infection. Most folks around here will recommend that you leave a brew in primary at least 3 weeks; that typically gives time for the yeast to fully ferment your work _and_ some time for the yeast to clean up any byproducts from fermentation that can lead to off flavors. At that point, check with your hydrometer, and if gravity stays stable for 3 days, you're good to bottle/keg/rack to secondary if you're using fruit/dry hops/etc.

 

Patience and time are your friends - right alongside excellent sanitation.

A few weeks primary, a few weeks conditioning in the bottles, then 2 days in the fridge to dissolve co2.

Then sit back and enjoy. In the meantime, get another brew going asap!

B

 

Won't a secondary clean the brew up?
If it does would waiting till the fg is steady then goto secondary for three days be a bad idea as I'm risking contamation.

 

No faster/better than just leaving it in primary...

I don't rack to another vessel for anything other than moving onto flavor elements or aging for extended periods (or both).

Has the brew been fermenting at 78F for 8 days? If so, depending on the yeast, it should have gone to a lower SG... Of course, without the details, we won't know.

I've had best results going a full month (longer for bigger brews) in primary, then bottle/keg. I slow carbonate in keg, taking ~2 weeks before serving. For bottles, go at least 3 weeks at 70F before chilling one down to test/sample. I would also advise putting the bottle into the fridge for at least 4-5 days so that the CO2 REALLY gets into the brew, and the sediment compacts fully. Longer in the fridge means that you'll lose less to sediment in the bottle. I would even go a full week in the fridge if you can hold out. If it's fully carbonated, and tastes great, then chill down some more. I would just remember to replenish what you have in the fridge as you drink it (rotate your inventory ) so that you don't need to worry. Of course, this is where kegging really helps. :rockin:

 

Hey guys I checked the gravity again today. It's at 1.019 or the same as before the temp is a little lower today. Should I bottle Friday or Saturday.

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I bottled it last friday this waiting is hard

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wondering what yeast you used 78 appears a bit high for red ale. if you used irish ale yeast it should have been between 67-72.

watch your yeast temp ranges. temp controls is second only to sanitation.