Beverages that are drinkable in short time?

[EnigmaBADGER]

I've brewed some mead and cider, pretty palatable actually after six months, but I'm heading off to a function and, being low on dough, is there any fermentables (haha, is that a word?) that are palatable in six weeks? Thanks for your guys' time and expertise.

 

[firestem4]

The obvious answer is beer.They dont take as long to ferment or finish as mead, etc. 2-3 weeks to ferment, 2-3 weeks to bottle condition and you're golden (ale?)

 

[EnigmaBADGER]

Haha, thanks for the answer. Sorry for missing this obvious here, I don't know too much about beer, but it's time to learn

 

[SEABrewer]

A simple, lightly-hopped, moderate gravity ale should be good to go in 6 weeks, especially if your use proper temperature control and make sure you pitch the right amount of healthy yeast into a well oxygenated wort. I'd probably go with a simple American pale ale or maybe a brown ale. Stay away from anything requiring secondary fermentation (e.g. fruit, dry hopping, etc.) or an extended aging period (e.g. beers over say 1.060 OG).

Assuming you use good techniques, figure 3 weeks for the beer to be done fermenting/cleaning up after itself and ready for bottling and then 3 weeks for it to condition/carb in bottles. You could shave some of that time off if you were kegging.

I'm sure others will chime in and say that you can do all of the above in a lot less than 6 weeks too.

 

[firestem4]

I wouldn't say it is necessarily obvious. On these forums it may be common knowledge but when I attempted my first mead I had no idea it took a so long to ferment!

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. I know I have asked my fair share, people on this forum are too nice!
(p.s. I didn't mean obvious in any demeaning way. I meant it with good fun )

 

[FatDragon]

If you keg, there are certain beers that, done correctly, can go from grain to glass in less than a week. Bottle-conditioned beers will take longer, but with the right conditions you could probably rush a beer to the glass in a week and a half.

You could also try out some rice wine, either straight or mixed.

 

[beerandloathinginaustin]

Try something like White Labs WLP 090 San Diego Super yeast if you want quick turn around on a pale or even a 2 week IPA. Dry hop 6 or 7 days in. (You'll need another week or two if bottle conditioning.)