bottle during off-gassing?

[paino_8]

Team - Is it recommended to bottle if there is still off-gassing occuring in secondary? I've had my amber ale sitting in the secondary for about 20 days...just about 4 days ago the air lock started engaging (posted about this earlier with lots of helpful advice provided). My question now is since it appears to be off-gassing (airlock still bubbles every 30-45 seconds), can I bottle or do I have to wait until no activity in airlock?

Thanks!

 

[twistr25]

Are you at your FG? If yes, then bottle away, if no, wait a bit longer. How long was it in primary?

 

[sweed]

It should be ok, how long was your primary? This happened with my first, it got warmer so it started to 'off gas' again. After 3 weeks, and amber should be good to bottle. whats the FG?

 

[paino_8]

I don't have a hydrometer...otherwise I wouldn't be going about asking you guys . Next batch I will have one. It was in primary for 1 week...been in secondary for 20 days.

 

[sweed]

Yuo should be g2g. You don't have to use the 2ndary for a beer like this, but I did for my first, just for the experience.

 

[twistr25]

Ummm, my guess is it should be fine. But unfortunately the only way to be sure is to take a hydrometer reading. A handful of things could actually be causing it to continue to ferment. There are almost daily posts on here of batches getting stuck at a higher gravity. On the off chance that yours could be stuck, I think it'd be worthwhile to wait until you can get a hydrometer reading on it to make sure it's done. If it's not, you could risk bottle bombs.

 

[TheGrouch]

Did it ferment vigorously in the primary (bubble in airlock every second or so for a couple days)? If so, you should be good. If not, find a hydrometer to be sure.

 

[paino_8]

Thanks, all. Yes, it fermented vigorously. I racked it on top of some apricots in the secondary. It chewed up some sugar for about a day...then calmed down and no activity for two weeks. No strange growth on the fruit (chopped finely...now floating on top). When I was about to bottle is when I noticed the activity in the air lock. It's been going for at least 4 days...no real change in temp outside, same inside temp. I know that there's no way to tell if it's fermenting without the hydrometer. That it's been going for 4 days made me think it could be off-gassing and I didn't know if that could lead to bottle bombs if I bottled.

 

[twistr25]

Off-gassing shouldn't, still fermenting could. I would bet that it is fine though. Are you having a hydrometer shipped in, why you need to wait for it?