Clearing the beer after bottling.

[Harbrook]

Hi, Ive just bottled my first brew and will have it at room temperature for 2 days so it can carbonate.
What temperature should I then keep it at for the 2 weeks it takes to clear?
I know it needs to be cool, but the only cool places i have will tend to fluctuate quite bit as there is no heating in these parts of the house
Many thanks for you help

 

[flars]

Don't expect carbonation within two days. At least two weeks at 70° to 75°F will carbonate most beers. After good carbonation is achieved store the bottles in a cool area to slow staling. Around the mid 60° is good.

If you plan to drink these beers in a few months don't worry about staling. Need not worry about staling for big beers and dark beers like stouts which may benefit from aging for 6 months to a year or two.

Edit: Fluctuating temperatures once the beer is in the bottle is not a problem as long as it doesn't get very warm.

 

[PADave]

Going to take more than 2 days. Anywhere from 60 to 70's will work. The warmer you keep it, the faster the yeast will work. Personally all my bottled brew sits in the basement, which is about 60 this time of the year, high 60's during the summer.

 

[JonM]

Once it's carbed (minimum three weeks in the 60s or 70s) just store them in the fridge at normal fridge temps and they should clear right up. Might take weeks for that to happen, but it'll clear up.

 

[Harbrook]

Going to take more than 2 days. Anywhere from 60 to 70's will work. The warmer you keep it, the faster the yeast will work. Personally all my bottled brew sits in the basement, which is about 60 this time of the year, high 60's during the summer.

Ive bottled into glass, but kept one in plastic so I can squeeze it to check on how its carbonating. I hope this will be a good indication?

 

[PADave]

Depending on the style, you might want to keep the brews out of the fridge. At room temp they are going to continue ageing, being in the fridge is going to slow that process down.
I have no problems with having to refrigerate to have a clear beer. I often times will put into fridge, then drink only a few hours later. That beer is just as clear as the one that has been in the fridge for a week or more.

 

[DurtyChemist]

Your beer will clear while it carbonates if you leave it alone. Gravity works just fine and if you want you could add gelatin to primary or secondary when bottling.