almost at FG?

[jrakich87]

So I did a reading last night and I'm at 1.014, the target for my amber ale is 1.011-1.013 so I'm fairly close... It's only been in primary since wednesday, but the heat got outta hand and it took off hard and fast. I'm guessing everyone will tell me not to take a reading for a while? I was maybe gonna do one tomorrow to see if it dropped more or if fermentation is "completely" done. I'm planning to bottle condition, no secondary, any suggestions?

 

[s3n8]

Let it sit for 2 - 3 weeks. It will be better. Yeast will continue to consume all manner of things you do not want in your finished product. Racking too early will stunt this process. Dont bother with a secondary unless you are dry hopping.

 

[Nurmey]

Take all the reading you want just don't bottle that beer for a couple more weeks!

Just because it's done fermenting, doesn't mean the yeast are done with their job. They will clean up the beer after the fermentation party and your beer will be better for it. It takes them a while to clean up their waste and fall to the bottom.

 

[jrakich87]

2-3 weeks more in primary? I was a little worried that there'd be a chance of infection since I opened it up last night and there was no foam or anything, it all sank back into the beer already... doesn't that mean CO2 isn't pushing out and preventing nasties getting in thru leaks? or am I paranoid

 

[Nurmey]

You are paranoid. As Revvy would say "Step away from the beer".

 

[s3n8]

There will still be CO2 coming out of solution. Put the cap back on and fughetaboutit for a while. Seriously.

 

[HVBrewtality]

"Step away from the beer".

best advice out there

 

[eddie]

2-3 weeks more in primary? I was a little worried that there'd be a chance of infection since I opened it up last night and there was no foam or anything, it all sank back into the beer already... doesn't that mean CO2 isn't pushing out and preventing nasties getting in thru leaks? or am I paranoid

So long as you've followed good sanitization practices and haven't been opening your fermenter every other day to get a look at it, you should be fine. Leave it be for at least another week (two would be better) and check it again.

 

[jrakich87]

How likely is it that it'll be overcarbonated from unfermented sugars? Is that a real concern or do I not need to worry if I leave it a week?

 

[Nurmey]

How likely is it that it'll be overcarbonated from unfermented sugars? Is that a real concern or do I not need to worry if I leave it a week?

Waiting longer to bottle beer is never a concern. It insures the sugars have been fully fermented.

Glass shrapnel propelling 10 feet across the room from bottling too soon is a REAL concern and highly dangerous.