Bottle Conditioning

[crob24]

How long is long enough to condition your beer (malt extract kit, English brown ale) once it has been bottled, and are there any signs as to when it is ready?

Cheers

Chris

 

[Blender]

It should take 2-3 weeks to carb up at 70 degrees. It will taste a lot better about 2-3 more weeks after that, I can never wait that long though.

 

[david_42]

There isn't anything you can see, so time is your best indicator. Some people will fill a couple small soda bottles, as a guide to when carbonation is finished. For most early batches, it's done conditioning about the time you finish the last bottle.

 

[max-the-knife]

I have 5 brews under my belt and I've always allowed 3 weeks to condition in the bottle. To help with my impatience, I always bottle one in a clear bottle. This allows me to observe color and I can pop the top on it after a few days to sneak a taste.

 

[RichBrewer]

It's my experience that 3 weeks is the minimum. Having said that, I always drink one after the first and second week. I like to see how the beer changes and gets better.

 

[Paperface]

Well i've waited 13 days after my very first brew to finally open one and try it out. It ain't great, but I'll be damned if I'm going to wait any longer to start drinking it. I figure by the time I get to the end of the 48 bottles, they'll be just right.

 

[SteveM]

Yup - the ideal time to start drinking them is normally about when you are knocking down the last one.

I second the use of one clear bottle if you have one.

Edit - for the second time in two nights I am finishing off the last of a batch. The hefe didn't really hold up (last night) but the pale ale about brings tears to my eyes that it is gone.

 

[fezzman]

I third the comment on using a few clear bottles. I also use a few 8oz bottles for testers.

I keep an eye on the yeast sediment in the clear bottles. When there is a good bit on the bottom, I'll test one of the 8oz bottles. Sometimes I'll hold a clear up to the light and give a gentle shake...you can sometimes see the carbonation that way.

 

[brewhead]

when i was bottling i would use a couple of clear tester bottles

slightly off topic but still in the bottle conditioning arena - dme makes a better carb agent than corn sugar imo. the drawback is that it takes a week or so longer

 

[crob24]

Thanks for the advice on the dme