Brewing with a deadline

[Lenner]

Hi guys, I need some advice.
I am in a bit of a pickle. I have to have drinkable beer ready on the 8th of June, and I need it to get as good as it can under these horrible circumstances.
I set a 2.6 gallon batch almost a week ago (last monday to be precise) with half an ounce of cascade, one ounce of amarillo, 4.4 lbs of malt extract and US-05 yeast.
My plan is to keep it in the primary (not doing any secondary) for 13 days, bottle at 70 degrees for 17 days, store in fridge for 2 days and then hope for the best.
Does anyone have a better plan or should I stick to it?

 

[Sadu]

You can probably bottle it a bit earlier than 13 days so long as you pitched a good amount of yeast and you are sure it is finished fermenting (take gravity readings 2 days apart etc). Bottling on day 8 or so should be feasible.

If you don't mind it being a bit cloudy, skip any sort of crash cooling so there is more yeast in solution when you bottle, which speeds up bottle conditioning.

Make sure you are keeping the bottles somewhere nice and warm when you bottle condition. Use a heat belt or heater if you have to.

Sounds like this is a pale ale / blonde ale of some sort, you should have enough time for this to be ready in time.

 

[brewbama]

When I needed a beer a lot faster than you describe I’ve done things like this: https://beerandbrewing.com/grain-to-glass-in-10-days/

And this: https://www.maltosefalcons.com/tech/express-brewing-speed-brewing-grain-glass-less-10-days-0

 

[Pkrd]

It's probably almost done fermenting by now, if you can then increase the temperature to 70 for three days and then bottle it.

 

[S-Met]

Few things:
1 - no NEED for secondary. Especially for a 2.5 gal batch unless adding specific additions that you dont want interacting with the primary.

2 - smaller batch sizes should ferment slightly faster. (Not much, but slightly). 6-9 days is doable, but make a yeast starter to give you the best chance.

3 - you are bottling and on a short timetable, FERMENT IT DRY!!! Use a hydrometer to get a stable gravity read. Otherwise you will only b guessing on co2 produced for priming.

4 - when bottling, use 1 clean plastic soda bottle of the same size/volume as your bottles (or nearest approx size 12,16,20oz) once your single plastic bottle is solid/firm, move beer to a fridge. Yiu can check it when its cold. If your plastic bottle is to your carbonation liking, you are ready to go.

 

[Lenner]

Thanks for the replies guys.
The airlock is still bubbling with 6-10 sec intervalls so I guess it's still working hard.

I will give it a few more days and see if it clears up a bit and stop bubbling.

 

[IcarusFallen]

To add to @Pkrd. You can warm it up. I would even go to 73. Any off flavors the yeast were going to produce would have already happened so now you are just making them happy and warm to chew through the last bit of sugar.

 

[Lenner]

To add to @Pkrd. You can warm it up. I would even go to 73. Any off flavors the yeast were going to produce would have already happened so now you are just making them happy and warm to chew through the last bit of sugar.

That is perfect, I have been trying to keep the heat down indoors so no need for that anymore then. Thanks!

 

[Lenner]

Seing as I don’t have a hygrometer (buying one for my next batch) I am having to go on looks and feeling. The krausen is all but gone and the airlock has slowed down to about 2.5min between bubbles.
Would you risk it and bottle it now?

 

[IcarusFallen]

So you are at 8 Days in primary? Using US-05 (did you make a yeast starter?)

If you need it by the 8th, I would say 3 weeks of bottle conditioning should be good. Without a hydrometer I might wait till Friday to bottle, then keep the bottles warm (70+) for the three weeks. Should have good results.

You could use S-Met’s suggestion of bottling 1 plastic bottle to give you some indication of carbonation.

 

[Lenner]

So you are at 8 Days in primary? Using US-05 (did you make a yeast starter?)

If you need it by the 8th, I would say 3 weeks of bottle conditioning should be good. Without a hydrometer I might wait till Friday to bottle, then keep the bottles warm (70+) for the three weeks. Should have good results.

You could use S-Met’s suggestion of bottling 1 plastic bottle to give you some indication of carbonation.

Yes 8 days today and a starter with room temp. water two hours before going in the primary. Does that count as a starter?

Will do, thanks!

 

[IcarusFallen]

The water won’t count for a starter, sorry. I’d give it until Friday just to account for lag time with the yeast and any other variables you can’t account for.

 

[Lenner]

Sounds great, I will give it a go on friday. Am I right in thinking that I should wait until the day before to stuff them in the fridge so they get as long time as possible to condition in room temp?

 

[Lenner]

I still have bubbles every minute in the airlock, do I still dare to bottle it?

I REALLY need to get a hydrometer..

 

[fourfarthing]

I still have bubbles every minute in the airlock, do I still dare to bottle it?

I REALLY need to get a hydrometer..

I wouldn't. That is a sign of fermentation activity. Maybe try to raise the temp to help it finish off.

 

[Lenner]

I wouldn't. That is a sign of fermentation activity. Maybe try to raise the temp to help it finish off.

The funny thing is that the air temp hasn’t gone under 73 during the last week.
I guess I’ll leave it a few more days then. Thanks!

 

[Lenner]

What a difference a day make! After another 12 hours it has slowed down to bubble about once every 7 min or so. What interval should I be waiting for?

 

[Pkrd]

Its well done. Bottle away.

 

[thehaze]

13 days in the primary is enough, even for US-05. But 17 days in the bottle and then store cold, I would say that's a bit too much. Provided you let the bottles carbonate at around 68-74F, they will be ready in 10 days. Try one there, by putting in the freezer for 30-60 minutes. After these 10 days, put them all in the fridge and they will settle nicely and hopefully, due to cooler enviroment, they will keep most of their aroma and flavour.

You have plenty of time to get these bottles ready, so no worries. ( I also bottle and can have drinkable beer in max. 3 weeks )

 

[505-Brewer]

I still have bubbles every minute in the airlock, do I still dare to bottle it?

I REALLY need to get a hydrometer..

Even then you should be checking for diacetyl to clean up to make sure fermentation and metabolism are both done. In fermenter and in the bottle prior to serving. Only thing worse than no homebrew is bad homebrew.

 

[Lenner]

Thanks guys! Chilled one yesterday and gave it a try. Holy cow it turned out better then I had thought given the circumstances!