Bottle before going on vacation?

[neggy]

Hey all
This is the second wheat beer I've ever done, but this time I've made a few changes so I'm kind of winging it.
This time round I'm using a liquid yeast and I've transferred to a secondary. I think I sort of regret putting it in the carboy now, but I'll live with my decision.
So I transferred 3 days ago after it was in the primary for 6 days. I now have a slight predicament. My wife and i booked a last minute flight to go away for a week on the 18th, that leaves me 5 more days.
I'm concerned about leaving the wheat beer in the carboy for that long, but I'm even more nervous about bottling early ( bombs).

I'm going to start checking the SG tomorrow (any advice on getting beer out of the carboy narrow neck?) to try and catch the beer at its earliest stage of levelling SG.

Advice anyone?

Cheers

 

[BigRock947]

Just wait to bottle after you get back from vacation.... I like to wait a minimum of 3 weeks before I even think about bottling. The extra time will let the yeast do its job and clean up the beer. Have a great time on vacation.

 

[neggy]

Hey Mark
Thanks for your reply. I was only really concerned because it is a wheat beer and I've read that they shouldn't be aged.

 

[FatDragon]

An extra week won't hurt at all. A wheat should generally be done after 14 days, so you probably wouldn't have any problems from bottling the day before you fly, but you'll definitely be fine leaving it in the carboy for that third week.

 

[neggy]

Thank you! I'll still wait till the last minute to decide on bottling. I'll keep my eye on the SG.
But my mind is at ease now!
Cheers

 

[Hello]

Thank you! I'll still wait till the last minute to decide on bottling. I'll keep my eye on the SG.
But my mind is at ease now!
Cheers

Skip bottling. Just give it that week without you messing about with it. It'll be like a vacation for your beer too. One week on yeast is not really aging. You're letting the yeast work. Putting it in a bottle and letting it sit for weeks to months is more like aging. You have nothing to worry about. Relax, go on vacation, don't rack beer to secondary after only 6 days in primary, don't worry, and come home and check your gravity & bottle then if stable.

Enjoy your trip.