Bottling After 1 Week in Primary

[erranceloup]

I'm on my first brew and last Saturday I made an ESB from this recipe: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f64/special-bitter-1st-place-hbt-comp-141251/

I was right around target for all my numbers and everything went smoothly. The gravity has been stable for 4 days now and the beer tastes good, i.e., I'm not tasting any diacetyl. I tried microwaving a sample and I'm not smelling anything off from that either.

I used S-04 and I've read this yeast works very fast - the beer is already looking clear.

So my question is: is there any reason why I shouldn't cold crash now and bottle it over the weekend?

Thanks!

 

[JimRausch]

What was your OG, and what are your stable FGs?
Quite a few people(Yooper included I believe) will say that you can get a finished beer ready to package in a week as long as it starts with a reasonably low OG and you treat your yeast well.
Me, since I tend to start my fermentations on the cool side and finish up a little warmer after a week, I tend to go a minimum of 2 weeks before thinking of bottling. But, my pipeline is well stocked so I'm not in a hurry anymore.

 

[paperairplane]

A little time never hurts. Haven't heard of the microwave beer test...

S04 is fast, how big a hurry are you in? I go 3 weeks primary, keg and give it a week - I drink a lot of small beers / pale ales starting at day 30.

 

[balrog]

+1 Agreed. Personally I would let it ride another week just because. But I am ALWAYS in a hurry. What FG were you expecting, was it AG, what was ferm temp (I've had to rouse S04 if fermented on cool side, to make it really finish up).

 

[hunter_le five]

If you have reached your target FG and it has stayed there for several days, then yes, you can absolutely bottle it.

 

[billl]

Can you? As long as the gravity is stable and it tastes fine, sure.

Should you? Well..... you are going to get beer. Hopefully even good beer. However, most new brewers get in a hurry. The rush to bottle and then rush to drink it. They get to the end of their stash and say "Wow, this last bottle is the best one yet!" But then its gone.

So, it's your first batch. If you just can't wait, go ahead and bottle it. Then, brew up another batch! That way, you'll have some maturing a little more appropriately. Most of us "build up a pipeline" so you are drinking it at the peak of flavor.

 

[Hopper5000]

An important rule/guideline in homebrewing is to be patient. Most folks on here would leave their beer in primary for somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks. If I am doing lower gravity brew and am trying to get it done in a hurry I will leave it for a minimum of 2 weeks. This allows the yeast to clean things up a bit. Can you bottle it right now, yes. Might it turn out just fine, yes. Is it better to just wait a little while longer, probably...

 

[Yooper]

Sure, if the beer is finished and clear, has been at FG for at least a few days.

With a OG of 1.048, a clear beer, and no hint of diacetyl (the microwave test), it's not going to get more done once it's done.

 

[cannman]

I bottled a week long beer last week but ONLY because I hit my FG. I'm a little disappointed in how hazy the beer is so if you have any extra time, cold crash and just let the beer chill for a while.

 

[brew_ny]

it's not going to get more done once it's done.

if it is done it is done

all the best

S_M

 

[rekoob]

Like everyone else, IF at FG for a few days then go ahead.
If you cold crash (what temp did you ferment it at?) and let it sit a little it will clear out more and the yeast cake will compact so you get less in the bottle.
I don't even look at it until 10 days and then I'm in no hurry to get it to the keg. it really does mature and will taste better given a little more time, either in the primary or the bottle.
if your itching to get it in the bottle and carb'd so you can drink... go for it.
Nostrovia!

 

[brew_ny]

Like everyone else, IF at FG for a few days then go ahead.

that is the big IF

 

[erranceloup]

Thanks alot for the replies everyone, very helpful and much appreciated.

My OG was 1.049, it finished at 1.012 (the target) and has been there 4 days. I fermented at 68f.

Sure, if the beer is finished and clear, has been at FG for at least a few days.

With a OG of 1.048, a clear beer, and no hint of diacetyl (the microwave test), it's not going to get more done once it's done.

Thanks for the reply Yooper! It was reading your posts (as well as those of a brewing scientist on another forum) that got me thinking I might want to bottle soon... I just wanted to be certain first.

I'm not in a rush to drink the beer, its just my understanding that once FG is reached and the yeast has cleaned up/dropped out there's nothing good that can come from leaving it on the yeast.

I have to cold crash in my ferm chamber so I'd rather get that done and let it condition in the bottle so I can move on to my next brew (I just got 2 pounds of 2014 hops that I'm eager to use ).