Bottling early?

[mpfeil8484]

So first time brew, I was wondering with my double ipa what's the earliest I can bottle it's been fermenting for week and a half can I bottle now

 

[freisste]

So first time brew, I was wondering with my double ipa what's the earliest I can bottle it's been fermenting for week and a half can I bottle now

Take a gravity reading and wait a couple days. Take another reading. If it is the same and at or near your target, you should be ready to bottle. Keep in mind that it takes another three weeks (minimum) in the bottle to carb/condition, and it might be longer on an IIPA).

 

[BlackGoat]

ditto, also consider that if you bottle too early (before fermentation is complete) there will be too much CO2 in the beer and the bottles could explode, or the tops can pop off making a huge mess. Airlock activity, or just looking at the beer won't tell you whether its done, only the gravity readings will tell you.

 

[Revvy]

You bottle when a beer's done. We can't tell you when that is. Your hydrometer is the only thing that can. Take a gravity reading, and another 2 days later, if it's the same it is done.

 

[TyTanium]

Are you dry hopping?

 

[Jhickman55]

Newb question, but how do you get the wort out of the fermenter without oxidizing the beer? I use a plastic bucket.

 

[Revvy]

An autosiphon is the easiest.

 

[Jhickman55]

Will you then put the wort back? Or dispose?

 

[BlackGoat]

you siphon it using a transfer tube. The link below provides a video that I assume covers it. What do you plan to use to bottle the beer? Most brewers have a dedicated bottling bucket which has a spigot on it, allowing you to fill the bottles from the spigot.

http://beer.wonderhowto.com/how-to/rack-your-homemade-beer-into-secondary-fermenter-239528/

 

[Revvy]

Oh, you're talking about taking a gravity reading? We usually use either a sanitized turkey baster or a wine theif to draw our samples.

And we tend to drink them you don't want to put them back and risk infecting the beer.

 

[LovesIPA]

If you're just drawing a sample, use a sanitized wine thief. Don't return the sample to the fermenter.

 

[unionrdr]

you siphon it using a transfer tube. The link below provides a video that I assume covers it. What do you plan to use to bottle the beer? Most brewers have a dedicated bottling bucket which has a spigot on it, allowing you to fill the bottles from the spigot.

http://beer.wonderhowto.com/how-to/rack-your-homemade-beer-into-secondary-fermenter-239528/

With a piece of 3/8" ID tubing to connect a bottling wand to it.

 

[BlackGoat]

Plus it's nice to drink the sample just so you have an idea how the beer is coming along.

 

[billl]

The penalty for asking if you can bottle early is to make you wait an extra 2 weeks.

Bottling fast is just a bad idea. All you get is bad, unfiinished beer in a bottle that might explode. It does not get you great beer any faster. In fact, pretty much all the clearing and conditioning aspects of good beer happen much faster in the fermenter than in a bottle.

 

[bobbrews]

Following the advice offered by Revvy is your best bet.

When I bottle IIPAs, I always follow some version of this schedule and I always hit FG without having to check several times (but keep in mind my recipes/methods may differ greatly from your own so proceed with caution):

2.0-4.0 weeks primary
1.0-2.0 weeks secondary (optional)
2.5-3.0 weeks bottle carb

If not doing a secondary, you should keep the beer in the primary toward the tail end of the provided range. A cold crash and dryhop can be done in either vessel.

I suggest brewing IIPAs often and learning what schedule works best for you. Some time spent in the refrigerator after carbing also benefits the clarity of the brew. I typically drink my first glass 6-8 weeks from brew day.

 

[mpfeil8484]

Are you dry hopping?

Yes I did