Happy Christmas, I'm new to this forum, first off is it free to use the forum? Also, I've just brewed my 1st ale in about 20 years, I've followed the instructions as per the letter, however I've left the brew in the brew bucket for around a week and a half extra before bottling after adding the hops, will this have any effect on the brew? Thanks for any advice. Ash.
1st home brew for 20 year!!!
- Thread starter Ashtodd
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flars
Well-Known Member
Most instructions rush the beer to the bottle. This usually means more of the sediments that are still suspended in the fermentor will dropout after the beer is bottled. I typically leave my beer in the fermentors for three weeks before bottling.
I'll take a specific gravity reading about day 10 and a second reading about day 15 to 18 to confirm the fermentation is finished.
I'll take a specific gravity reading about day 10 and a second reading about day 15 to 18 to confirm the fermentation is finished.
Up to 6 months in the fermentor is fine, assuming you've left it closed with an airlock most of the time (oxygen is a beer killer). After that, the yeast can die and give off some nasty flavors.
For kegging 2 weeks in fermentor is best. For bottling, another week is ideal. You really want the fermentation to finish, and fermentation is a multi-step process that takes time. You also want to clear the beer as much as possible before bottling, and that takes 1) time, 2) cold, 3) finings. #3 will less the need for #1.
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For kegging 2 weeks in fermentor is best. For bottling, another week is ideal. You really want the fermentation to finish, and fermentation is a multi-step process that takes time. You also want to clear the beer as much as possible before bottling, and that takes 1) time, 2) cold, 3) finings. #3 will less the need for #1.
Site is free. We do have a supporting membership program. It gets you a sticker. That's about it. If you wonder why people support the site, hang around a while and you'll figure it out.
I forgot half of a 10 gallon batch in a carboy in the fridge for 3 weeks, other than coming out .02 points lower in FG than the first half it was fine. There is some stuff around leaving hops in longer having a bit of a grassy hay taste to it but really until you taste it you can't know.
It may depend on the hop variety. I heard of the grassy taste from leaving the hops too long but I haven't noticed it with the varieties I use. The major effects it will have on the beer is that it will have plenty of time for the yeast to finish up and begin flocculating and settle out. The beer will begin to mature so you may not need as much time in the bottle for the beer to be ready to drink, and since more yeast settled before bottling you won't have as much sediment in your bottles.
Sounds to me like you've accidentally made a better beer! I struggle to wait the full 3 weeks before bottling my beers, then lose sleep worrying about bottle bombs if fermentation wasn't complete. Welcome back to the obssess... er... hobby!
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Jesse D
Well-Known Member
The thought of bottle bombs scares me, I'll be bottling my first 48 in a couple weeks.
Bottle bombs can happen for 3 reasons. First is bottling before the beer is at final gravity. Use your hydrometer to check the gravity, then use it again 2 days later. If they match, the beer is ready to bottle. Second it using too much priming sugar. Sugar for priming should be weighed, not measured. Priming sugar can be compacted in the measure cup but the right amount by weight will always be right. Third is an infection. Some bacteria or wild yeast can ferment sugars that your brewing yeast cannot. Good sanitation is critical. If you are still worried, put the bottles in a tub with a lid. While the bottles can explode and throw glass fragments, there isn't enough energy to blow the lid off so you will capture it in the tub.
+1 on the tub with a lid. I picked one up at target for $8.99 that easily holds two batches (~110) worth of bottles. I just leave them in there for a month, taking out testers as needed, and have zero worries.
Damn, it's like you read my mind!And at the end of the month do you have any bottles left in there?
I've seriously been thinking about moving up to 10 gallon batches for just that reason.
