Eager to get started...

[70Cuda383]

Hi. first post, been reading here most of the afternoon though!

I have a batch of home brew that's been fermenting (i hope) for 3 days now. haven't seen a lot of activity in there, but it's hard to see. there was some bubbles on top for a day or so, that's mostly gone now though. I don't have very high hopes for this working though...it's a Mr Beer kit, and despite testing the fermenter for leaks, as soon as i poured it in, it was dripping out the seal on the spigot. I quickly poured it back into my re-sanitized pot, tightened the seal, and poured it back into the fermenter, then capped...this was all with the yeast in. anyway, I hope it works!

despite all that, my question is this: (long intro, I know!) I just bought a glass carboy today and a new ingredients kit for a scottish ale. it says to let it ferment 7-10 days. however, we leave for a week vacation in a week. can I start the beer today and let it sit in the fermenter for say, 17 days instead of 10? or will that be too long?

Thanks!

 

[kgraber]

Read around. Most here ferment for 3-4 weeks.

 

[70Cuda383]

Read around. Most here ferment for 3-4 weeks.

That's the impression I was getting from reading on here today. which is why I asked. I don't know enough about the different recipes and types of beers to know how long a good fermentation takes, or if it will spoil before carbonating.

the recipe I have calls for 7-10 days, and what I don't know is if this type of beer/yeast combo can go longer, should go longer, or if that's the limit, and the guys going for 3-4 weeks are making something different like a stout or porter that's a much darker, heartier beer.

so, for this scottish ale that calls for 7-10 days...can it go 3-4 weeks?

 

[lumpher]

scottish beers are awesome if you let them sit for 3-4 weeks, then age them. not so awesome if you let them sit for less. i let every beer except a hefeweizen sit for 3 weeks or more.