Bottling

[ryno1981]

How can I tell if my beer is ready to bottle without a hydrometer? It's a double IPA, was in the primary for 6 days and has been in the secondary for 14 days. I'm new at this and don't want my bottles to explode. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[choosybeggar]

Hmmmm. Tough one. I think you're going to get a lot of folks telling you to buy a hydrometer. I think if you have a vigorous fermentation initially, though, and bottle at 3 weeks with minimal residual krausen, you'll be a-ok.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

The purists in the audience will tell you to go get a hydrometer - it's really the only way of knowing for sure whether your fermentation is complete. They're maybe $6 at your LHBS. You can use the plastic case it comes in as a sample column and pull samples with a $2 turkey baster from the store (don't use your greasy kitchen turkey baster - buy another one and use it just for samples).

Having said that - if the krausen has fallen, and the yeast has dropped out, and the beer looks quiet and clear, and the ferment seemed to go well, then it *probably* is OK to bottle. Maybe. I've winged it with small batches just because taking samples out of a 1-gallon fermenter bites into your yield, but I *was* winging it.

I've warmed up to using a hydrometer as that is also a perfect excuse to sample your brew. I always drink my samples - to avoid contamination of course! Also knowing the SG has truly stabilized and is at the anticipated final gravity will give you peace of mind as to when to bottle. It's also great for getting a feel on how long your ferments actually take.

 

[BlackGoat]

You are probably ok, but without a hydrometer reading I'd probably give it one extra week just to be on the safe side. It wasn't in the primary very long.

 

[ryno1981]

Yeah, suppose I should get the hydrometer. Gives me a good excuse to go to the home brew shop. Was trying to avoid an hour long round trip and dealing with Milwaukee traffic. Thanks for your input guys!

 

[pannell77]

+1 on the hydrometer or get a refractometer. You can find a good deal on them on amazon.com (check www.homebrewfinds.com for deals on them). Based on your timeline though i would let it sit for at least another week.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

+1 on the hydrometer or get a refractometer. You can find a good deal on them on amazon.com (check www.homebrewfinds.com for deals on them). Based on your timeline though i would let it sit for at least another week.

Refractometer is not accurate once fermentation begins. You can use charts to get a better idea but hydro is still more accurate. That said I let all my beers hang out a while and only take a hydro reading for records.