Did I just muff this all up?

[unionrdr]

My rule of thumb is,if it's at a stable FG,& it's settled out clear or slightly misty,it's ready to bottle. however long that takes. It's not so much a certain amount of time as when IT'S ready.

 

[MarcusKillion]

Still bubbling away like mad. Smells okay...like the hops I added. So, I should just keep the lid on for three weeks when I'm ready to bottle? No other time it'll be okay to peek?

Anxious to see if all is okay...

No point in peeking and risking an infection for no reason . As long as it is doing as it should then you are most likely fine and looking at it is not going to tell you much unless you have some kind of moldy infection and then there is really nothing you can do so might as well let it go till it is ready then check it .
I forgot how long you had this going . It should not be bubbling away like crazy for more than a couple days and then slow down . It can and most likely will keep on letting out a bubble here and there for the next week or maybe even several even though you may not be around watching to see it . I have had several batches take 2 1/2 weeks to ferment but they started slow .

 

[GrogNerd]

can never have too many ferment vessels and plastic buckets are a great, economical choice

but you gotta get yourself at least one glass carboy, so you can watch what's going on without risking the batch

fermentation is a hideous process, but it's fascinating to watch and the end result... well, you don't need me to explain that part

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

We should really brew in aquarium tanks.

 

[MarcusKillion]

We should really brew in aquarium tanks.

Yum yum Fancy Guppy ale .

 

[rocketsan]

Update: so I cracked open the pail for the first time since I sealed it two weeks ago. This is what I saw:




This is while it was siphoning to bottling bucket. Does it look okay? Tasted pretty good. Next time I'll skip the vanilla and cocoa nibs and just do the kit straight up.

Do those floaters look okay? Need to get a better strainer maybe? Lots of hop residue...

 

[rocketsan]

So a week into bottles I have great carbonation it just tastes really hoppy. Did notice a lot of hop residue on sides of primary bucket. How can I improve on next batch or will this mellow out in time in the bottle?

Smells great just tastes hoppy after three weeks.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

Everything looks good. Hops will fade with age. 1 week is super young. The carbonation will settle in better in a few weeks (just because it is bubbly doesn't mean it is carbonated, it might go flat quickly). Stouts mellow nicely with age. I'd leave them alone for a few more weeks, then put 1 in the fridge each week and let it chill for a few days, then sample. You'll see how the flavors develop and meld with time.

 

[hellawaits77]

It looks perfectly fine. And like thunder_chicken said, stouts will mellow with age. Never brewed a stout myself, but the general consensus is they take a while to reach their peak. A month usually, and most of the time, longer. It's great (suprising too, as most beers don't taste good nor are they carbonated after 1 week) that it's in the shape it is after 1 week. Should get much better, too.

 

[mrphillips]

Good looking brew. If you're too impatient to keep the lid on...like me...then you're probably too impatient to let your stout age...like me...

 

[rocketsan]

Three weeks in, tasting great! A little concerned about some white bits in the bottle necks (they settle as soon as you pick them up). Need i be concerned or is this normal? Like i said they taste great. If something was going wrong would I already know?

Wondering if I have to start chugging bottles...

 

[GrogNerd]

glad to hear it turned out OK :rockin:

if something was wrong, you would know it; it just wouldn't taste good

and you do have another batch fermenting, right? gotta establish and maintain the pipeline, keep yourself stocked in homebrew

 

[unionrdr]

Sounds like yeast specks to me.

 

[rocketsan]

Appreciate all the help. Bought the exact same kit again. Will kick up the chocolate aspects this time. Going to purchase a 6 gallon glass carboy so I can check in on the fun. Have several 5 gallon ones but no 6...

Fridge is stocked with several brands of craft brewery milk stouts from our local liquor store...need more bottles

 

[unionrdr]

lolz...I got too many bottles. For to have manie manie bottles for hop bombas!

 

[rocketsan22]

Down to my last six bottles of this...time to get another kit on the stove. This stuff just gets better with age...so good.