mdbrewer
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- Joined
- Nov 21, 2005
- Messages
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I realized that I probably bottled my ale too early. This is my first brew (True Brew - Irish Stout) and I followed the instructions saying that I could bottle after one week. I had not seen any bubbles for several days, so I thought it was all good.
However, after I finished bottling I realized that maybe I should have measured the gravity *before* bottling. Anyway, I took a measurement and it was pretty high ~ 1.025. So since I had finished the bottling, I started to get nervous and think I may have exploding bottles any day soon. Since two of the beers are in Grolsch style bottles and I just opened one (26 hrs since bottling), it gave a good "pop" when opening, but no fountain of beer.
I called my brew shop, and he told me to pour all the beer back in the fermenting bucket, and add new yeast. However, I keep reading that you should NOT add oxygen to the beer, which will be difficult if I pour them all back. There is also the problem of risking contamination. So, I'm looking for advice on what to do.
I have the following options as I see it:
1. Wait and see if my bottles will explode. :cross:
2. Do as my brew shop recommended. I.e. empty the bottles and start the fermenting again.
3. Remove the caps and recap the bottles in a couple of days. But how do I know when to do it?
From now on, I will use the hydrometer
Thanks for your help,
The inexperienced thirsty brewer
However, after I finished bottling I realized that maybe I should have measured the gravity *before* bottling. Anyway, I took a measurement and it was pretty high ~ 1.025. So since I had finished the bottling, I started to get nervous and think I may have exploding bottles any day soon. Since two of the beers are in Grolsch style bottles and I just opened one (26 hrs since bottling), it gave a good "pop" when opening, but no fountain of beer.
I called my brew shop, and he told me to pour all the beer back in the fermenting bucket, and add new yeast. However, I keep reading that you should NOT add oxygen to the beer, which will be difficult if I pour them all back. There is also the problem of risking contamination. So, I'm looking for advice on what to do.
I have the following options as I see it:
1. Wait and see if my bottles will explode. :cross:
2. Do as my brew shop recommended. I.e. empty the bottles and start the fermenting again.
3. Remove the caps and recap the bottles in a couple of days. But how do I know when to do it?
From now on, I will use the hydrometer
Thanks for your help,
The inexperienced thirsty brewer