Beer has been in carboy almost a month longer than predicted. Is it ok to bottle now?

[Superstorm]

Hey everyone, I currently have a brown ale that's been in fermentation almost a month longer than it should have been. I have been keeping it in a swamp cooler at the correct temperature, but then one day it accidentally got warmer because I was at work and forgot to change the frozen bottles before I left. And then I noticed that it started to develop a krausen again and I was able to smell it through the airlock more than when I had it at its correct temperature. So do you guys think it's ok to bottle now, or should I wait longer?


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[unionrdr]

The cooler temps would make it take longer to finish fermenting. You could take a hydrometer sample & see if it's in FG range yet. That's the only way to know for sure.

 

[metanoia]

Like unionrdr said, the only way to know if it's ready to bottle is to check if fermentation is complete (so you don't get more fermentation in the bottles, which could make them explode), so take those hydrometer readings a few days apart and you can bottle when the readings are constant. Being as how it's been over a month in primary you're more than likely good to bottle, but it's always safe to check. And you'll probably have even better beer now than if you bottled a month ago since the yeast have been cleaning up the beer for longer.

 

[Cyclman]

Checking FG is the only "sure" way to know.

But an ale fermenting that long, I would be very surprised if it hasn't hit FG. Warming it up may have awakened the yeast and made it finish strong, it's actually a good practice to do so IMO.

 

[C-Rider]

The only way to know for sure is to take two SG readings 2 days apart and look for change......BUT since it's been a month + I'm sure it's done. I'd just take a reading to figure ABV and bottle.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Bubbling in the airlock could also just be from the beer warming up and more co2 coming out of solution due to the higher temps. I agree with others. It's most likely finished but take a hydrometer reading to be sure.


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[unionrdr]

Yeah, I thought that since a krausen formed again, it'd be best to check & be sure it's finished.