Beer carbination?

[jcs401]

Could it be possible for my hefewiezen brew could be carbonated after only 4 days in bottles??

 

[Wynne-R]

Unlikely. The quickest I have seen is 5 days. That was with a 1.050 beer that was bottled at 10 days and kept in an 82F closet. 7-10 days is more typical for me.

What does it taste like? That’s what matters. A lot of people say ‘three weeks minimum’ and ‘the yeast will clean up after themselves’. My beer doesn’t need that, I like ‘em fresh.

 

[zachattack]

I think it's completely possible. I usually bottle one beer in a seltzer bottle so I can gauge the carb progress without wasting a beer, and in the summer I've had weizens carb up almost overnight. The hefe yeasts with their low flocculation leave plenty of yeast floating around in there, they generally make quick work of the priming sugar. I've definitely had beers that took months to carb though. It depends on so many things, that's why the "3 week rule" is a decent generalization.

 

[kh54s10]

I would say it is likely that there is some carbonation. Whether it is done is unlikely. I have never tried a beer in less than 10 days so I don't really know how early one might carb. I have had a few that seemed good a 2 weeks most took longer and they ALL tasted better at 3 weeks or longer.

 

[jcs401]

Opened a bottle after chilling in the fridge last night after only about a week. Had fine carbination however flavor was not as great as I expected. Not sure if I did something wrong or what just doesn't taste good for a hefewiezen. Will anything change in flavor by letting it stay bottled longer?

 

[hehawbrew]

Opened a bottle after chilling in the fridge last night after only about a week. Had fine carbination however flavor was not as great as I expected. Not sure if I did something wrong or what just doesn't taste good for a hefewiezen. Will anything change in flavor by letting it stay bottled longer?

Yes. I usually put aside 3 beers each batch to try every 5 to 7 days just so I can taste the changes it makes.

 

[RM-MN]

Opened a bottle after chilling in the fridge last night after only about a week. Had fine carbination however flavor was not as great as I expected. Not sure if I did something wrong or what just doesn't taste good for a hefewiezen. Will anything change in flavor by letting it stay bottled longer?

I think that every beer I have made has changed flavor with more time in the bottle, most of them for the better. Ones that were worse were a pale ale where the hop aroma faded and another a spiced winter ale that the spice flavor disappeared. Ones that were way better were porters and a stout that was in the bottle for over a year. Much smoother with that extra time.

 

[Glynn]

Hefes are known to condition quickly, but 4 days is a little quick.