Dry Hopping Timing Question

[yimmyyames]

This is a pretty specific question that I'd love some feedback on.

I brewed a brown ale about 2 weeks ago. I need this beer to be ready by the first weekend in October for an event. This beer requires 2oz of cascade to be dry hopped. What complicates my situation is that I am leaving on vacation for almost 2 weeks when I'd normally dry hop/bottle given this time frame. Which of the following options do you think would yield the best beer given the circumstance:

1) Dry hop now (14 days in primary) and bottle next week (6 days dry hop in secondary) so my beer will be bottled for approx. 1 month.

2) Dry hop next week before I leave (21 days in primary) and bottle when I return (12 days dry hop in secondary) so my beer will be bottled for approx. 2.5 weeks.

I guess I am essentially asking if it is better to keep the beer in the primary or in bottles? And I haven't taken a hydrometer reading yet so I'm only guessing that I can move to secondary now...I think after 2 weeks I should be OK though.

Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jmartie13]

I'd go for the 6 day dry hop with 1 month in the bottle. I don't think you'd run into any problems with a 12 day dry hop, but I've heard of grassy off flavors from long dry hops. I've dry hopped for 14 days with no off flavors. Personally, I would be nervous with 2 weeks in the bottle. Every beer I've made has been better at 4 weeks than it was at 2 (I've tested, I'm a scientist), ha! good luck, cheers. .

 

[duboman]

Personally I would forget secondary. Verify final gravity, dry hop 7 days and bottle. Everything will be ready by the end of October and ready to go!

 

[cheez]

Personally I would forget secondary. Verify final gravity, dry hop 7 days and bottle. Everything will be ready by the end of October and ready to go!

Agreed