1st ever brew...I tried a swig a week in after a hydro reading

[alaskanmoosehunter]

Ok, so this is my first homebrew. I went with a belgian ale and I think everything is going alright. It's from a extract, but I think my fatal flaw was pitching yeast way to hot. I ran out of time and had to run to work. Next time I will allow more time. The OG was 1.042 and now it reads 1.012. The ale instructions reads it's ready to bottle at 1.008. The wort wasn't the greatest taste (of course I wouldn't really know if it was good, never really taste tested flat, warm uncarbinated beer. I'm sure as time goes on I will know the differences). Smells like beer though. I'm thinking I should wait another week at least. Reading alot of posts here on the forum I would think I'd be better off waiting.

Question?

Let's say for example you read your hydro 3 days in a row, every reading says the same measurement. Ok, so your ready to bottle.

Would it hurt to let it sit for a few more days or weeks?

Ben

 

[jollytim]

Technically, you would be okay to bottle. There are other things the yeast do besides lower your gravity....(make alcohol). They also clean up a few off flavors that are a by product of the afore mentioned alcohol making. That makes for a MUCH cleaner beer. You are only a week in, give it another week, or two, won't hurt anything. Could be the difference between good and great.

 

[Brasco20]

Let it sit 4 weeks in the primary, then bottle or keg. When i started doing this, things came out great.

 

[david_42]

Would it hurt to let it sit for a few more days or weeks?

Never a problem.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Never hurts to let it sit, often hurts not to. Especially longer than 1 week.

 

[alaskanmoosehunter]

I guess patience is the hardest thing to learn when you start brewing. Thanks guys.

 

[Hang Glider]

I think my fatal flaw was pitching yeast way to hot.

yep. weeks, not days.

what temp did you pitch, and what temp did you maintain?
that is a primary indicator of beer quality.

 

[alaskanmoosehunter]

I pitched at 88F (ouch). Maintained and still mantaining it at 65-67F in the garage.