Bottling question

[Flyin' Lion]

I bottled an irish stout a week ago and was wondering if I should see some affect of the carbonation process taking place in the bottle, as it is the bottles all look clean inside. Should I see a head? I used 1.25 cups of light DME and boiled with 1 cup water and 1 cup finished beer. Thanks for the help, you have a great forum here and I've learned alot from lurking around (most questions I've had others had already asked).

Jason

 

[Sasquatch]

You won't see anything.

Lighter beers stay cloudy while carbonating, then clear out. Stouts do too, but of course it's tough to see what's going on. Give it another week, then crack one of those babies open and enjoy.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

Yeah, I've tried to fool myself into thinking I was seeing signs of carbonation like bubbles when I shook it or more sediment on the bottom, but sasquatch is right. There's no way to tell without opening one up. And with the DME you definitely need to give it another week or even two.

 

[Flyin' Lion]

Hey thanks for the reply, I was told stouts have to age in the bottle a while, like maybe a month but I'll definitely try one next week just to be sure.

Jason

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

nope, you won't see a head or any kraeusen form in there. just let it go for at least 2 weeks around room temp, and it'll be good. it'll be even better in 4-6 weeks.

enjoy!

 

[Truble]

If this helps your decision to wait, I cracked my first stout last week after 8 days, and there was little/no carbonation. I bottled some in 12 ozers so that I can test, but the balance is in .5L flippers, and that is getting cool-aged for a couple months in the basement once I am assured that it is carbonated. I plan on testing it again this weekend, which will be ~17 days.

 

[SteveM]

Pretty much they all get better as they age, including flavor, head and settling of sediment. I suppose the optimal age of all of mine would be about a week or two after I downed the last one.

 

[Rhoobarb]

I bottle with DME and my advice - be patient!

DME takes longer to carbonate than corn sugar. I usually wait around three weeks. Oh sure, I'll pop one sooner, just for 'sampling".

Depending on how much sugar/fermentables/high gravity the beer is, it could take longer.

 

[Flyin' Lion]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful posts.