Age in bottle or fermenter?

[devilssoninlaw]

My Pale Ale is 2 weeks into the primary, fermentation went crazy for the first week or so. Should I bottle it and let it age a bit in the bottle or leave it to age in the primary a while longer?

I'm thinking it really doesn't matter either way but being a newby, I figured I'd just ask the professionals!

 

[VTX1300]

For a pale ale I don't believe aging is necessary. As long as it's at final gravity bottle it. A little time in the fermenter will give the yeast time to clean up after themselves but you only need a few days after fermentation is finished.

 

[devilssoninlaw]

Thanks VTX, I should add that my primary is a 6.5 gallon plastic pail. Hi Tech stuff.....

 

[Iseneye]

Most beers don't need aging if well brewed. Take gravity readings, when stable, bottle, carbonate, and drink when ready. A pale ale isnt going to get better with time unless it had some flaws.

 

[VTX1300]

It does not matter what you ferment in. The yeast will do the work. Plastic pail, glass carboy or stainless conical. It will make good beer if your process is sound. I too am fairly new. 18 months and 27 brews under my belt and learning more with every batch. Brew, learn, enjoy!

 

[RM-MN]

My Pale Ale is 2 weeks into the primary, fermentation went crazy for the first week or so. Should I bottle it and let it age a bit in the bottle or leave it to age in the primary a while longer?

I'm thinking it really doesn't matter either way but being a newby, I figured I'd just ask the professionals!

Your beer still has a bunch of suspended yeast and probably some trub so if you leave it in the fermenter a bit longer less of that will be in the bottles. Have you dry hopped it? If not and you want that aroma, dry hop now for a week, then if your beer is verified at final gravity, bottle it up. It will take a bit of time in the bottle to carbonate and gain a bit of maturity there. I'd sample one at a week to see if that is long enough for your taste. It likely will improve for another couple weeks but after that it will begin to lose the hop aroma and most of that will be gone at 3 months.

 

[TGFV]

Personally I just leave most of my ales in the fermenter for 3-4 weeks because of my schedule and it works to clean up any left overs and clear up non wheat ales.

That being said, most pale ales and the like don't need long times to clear up I find, and can be bottles in 2 weeks and will clear a bit more in the bottle if you are in a rush.

 

[devilssoninlaw]

Thanks Gentlemen!! With feedback like that, this brewing thing gets easier each batch. It's great to have a place where I can ask simple questions and get good, honest answers!