Did I bottle and cool too soon.

[Kerberbb]

Its been 2 wks since I bottled my first beer and first cider. Upon bottling I placed 3 or 4 or each directly into the fridge. I just wanted to see if it made a difference, and did not ready anywhere I could not do this. I opened one of each from the fridge the other day to check them out. The wheat beer I made was good but flat, like it never carbonated. The cider was similar but not nearly as noticeable. Was this a big no no? Should the rest I didn't cool in the fridge be okay? Be gentle I am new.:cross:

 

[ChshreCat]

Yes. You cooled them too soon. The yeast have to eat your priming sugar and create CO2 for the bottles to carbonate. By putting them in the fridge, you put your yeast to sleep.

3 weeks at 70 degrees, THEN put one in the fridge for 2 days to try it out.

Take the ones you put in the fridge back out, gently tip them upside down and back to resuspend the yeast and leave them out and they should still carb up.

 

[DavidSteel]

You cold crashed the yeast and made them go dormant. You need to let your bottles sit out in a warm environment so the yeast can do their job for a good 7-14 days before putting them in the fridge. I'd leave the bottles in a dark, 68-70 degree area to age and only put them in the fridge a few hours or a few days before you are going to drink them.

 

[Kerberbb]

Sweet, thanks guys. I was thinking thats what happened. The good news is the beer was great just flat. That said the other 60+ bottles of each have been sitting in cabinet in the kitchen, cool and dark.