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Super Bowl Beer Question

Discussion in 'Beginners Beer Brewing Forum' started by Fastmetal, Jan 27, 2011.

 

  1. #1
    Fastmetal

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 27, 2011
    I have a Hefe that has been in primary for 2 weeks and has been at the same FG for 5 days. I would like to serve this beer at our Super Bowl party but had a question about how I should let it condition.

    A. Leave it in primary until the Friday before the game and then keg and force carb it or

    B. Keg it now and let it sit at 12 psi and let it carb over the next week or so with a little priming sugar.

    I know the right answer is to let it sit in the primary for at least another week and then in the keg for 2 more but it's my first beer and I would like to enjoy it during the game.

    Thanks! This forum has been awesome for a noob like me who has tons of questions. All you have to do is hit search and your question is answered (usually) without having to ask (usually) :)
     
  2. #2
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Jan 27, 2011
    My answer is B. NO sugar though!

    Carbing it at 12 psi at 39ish degrees should get it plenty of carbonation, without a carbonic acid "bite" from fresh carbonation. I'd keg and it serve it!
     
  3. #3
    neovox

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Jan 27, 2011
    In my experience most brews benefit from at least a week in the keg on gas. The taste is better and the carbonation has some time to balance out. You can force it and shake the carbonation into it is short order, but it's just not the same as giving it some time chilled on gas. Don't use the priming sugar though if you're going to go this route. Natural priming is a different technique.
     
  4. #4
    wolverinebrewer

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 27, 2011
    Sorry I can't really answer your question but I just had to comment on the above.
    I totally agree. I have been reading here amost daily since last March and have yet to ask a question. It's because every question I've had, I've found the answer somewhere from someone. All of the greats such as Yooper and Revvy have helped immensly and they don't even know it. So cheers and thanks.
    Ok, now somebody please help this Op with his/ her issue.
     
  5. #5
    Fastmetal

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 27, 2011
    Thank guys and gals!!! I will keg it Friday without the sugar and set it at 12psi and forget it until the big day.
     
  6. #6
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Jan 27, 2011
    Are you by St. Louis? I'll be driving through St. Louis on Saturday, and I wouldn't mind stopping for a sampler! Call it "quality control" if you like. :D

    Seriously, patience is the hardest part of the process. So many of us CAN carb up in an hour, so we want to. The problem is that even if it's carbed, it usually isn't quite right. The carbonic acid bite from the co2 can be sharp until it's been equalized for a bit, and just because beer is carbed doesn't mean it's ready to drink. Waiting a week or two at the correct pressure is worth it!

    Don't move the keg once you "set it and forget it". In about 6 days, pull off about 3 ounces from the tap. You'll get a big gob of yeasty sludge/beer. Then pour that out and have another little pull from the tap. That should be pretty darn clear, and you can sample it and see how it is. That way, it's not so hard to wait! It won't be fully carbed or completely clear, but it will still be pretty darn good and makes the rest of the waiting a bit easier.

    Oh, yeah, and save some for the SuperBowl! It'll be really easy to "sample" a few times a day until the game.
     
  7. #7
    Fastmetal

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 28, 2011
    Thanks Yooper! I am in Lee's Summit, MO which is a suburb of Kansas City. I have 10 gallons brewed and 10 more coming soon so it will be easier to wait with a pipeline built up. Until then I will have to get by somehow on the sixer of Hopslam I managed to get a hold of and the fridge full of Boulevard Singlewide IPA and Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. It's a rough life. :)
     
  8. #8
    Fastmetal

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 7, 2011
    Well it worked!!! The keg is dry and the guest (all mainly BMC drinkers) were sad when I told them it was gone. After 9 days on the gas at 12psi the beer was perfectly carbonated and poured quite nicely which makes me happy. I could taste a little extract twang but it was very subtle and no big deal.
     
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