Chilling beer for carbonation

[xxkiskekyxx]

Someone suggested I would get better carbonation from my homebrew if I chilled it for a week rather than a few hours or a day. Is this true? Is a week really how long it takes for the co2 to dissolve?

 

[twistr25]

Typically 48 hours is ok, but I've even had a big difference at 72 hours. So if it's not good after then, let it sit longer. How long did it bottle condition?

 

[billl]

In my experience, you really want 2+ days and longer is better.

 

[TheZymurgist]

Try this: put one bottle in the fridge everyday for a week. On the last day, after the last bottle has chilled for a couple hours, open each bottle and try them side by side. Or, you can put seven bottles in the fridge on day one, and try one every day for a week. The side by side would give you a more definitive answer, but that could be a lot of beer all at once.

 

[WoodlandBrew]

Two weeks in bottles then one week in the fridge works very repeatability for me. It might be over kill, but I'd rather wait than drink flat beer.

 

[unionrdr]

1 week is ok for decent head & carbonation. Great for some beers that room temp conditioned well. But 2 weeks consistently gives thicker head & longer lasting carbonation in the glass. I went through such tests last year to find out just how long was good.

 

[xxkiskekyxx]

Thanks for all your help

 

[Tombraider2]

I let mine set for 6-7 weeks then in the fridge for a week or more before I drink it. And it is better the more I wait. Keg beer is a few days and fill R up. I need to try that next year.

 

[unionrdr]

How long beer carbs & conditions for depends on darkness & gravity. An IPA or APA will be better at 4 weeks than 7 or 8 weeks. Many start loosing hop flavors/aromas at 6 or 7 weeks ime.

 

[C-Rider]

I let mine condition at 70* for 3 weeks and then chill down to about 45 to drink. But I usually can't wait to try one and they have been good at 2 weeks and a few hours at 45.

 

[TheZymurgist]

How long beer carbs & conditions for depends on darkness & gravity. An IPA or APA will be better at 4 weeks than 7 or 8 weeks. Many start loosing hop flavors/aromas at 6 or 7 weeks ime.

Mine peak at 4 weeks after bottling, then it's a fairly rapid drop after that. But then again, I bottle and you get a little bit longer life from your hop aroma if you keg.