English Ale - First Look!

[jdlev]

Talk about a dark beer. Did I screw up? Is it contaminated? It smells delicious, and this is the first sample I've pulled from the fermenter. So if it is free of bacteria...it'll definitely have to be filtered. Any comments on the color? The brighter shot has a light bulb almost directly behind the vial. The black dot is the hydrometer.

I used the vial to get another gravity reading. I star san'd the nozzle, hydro, and flask all prior to drawing the sample. I flushed the nozzle and dumped the little bit of beer that came out. Then I got the gravity reading on a larger sample. When I was done with the gravity reading, I poured it back in the fermenter. I compared that to the reading I took 2 days ago, and it hasn't changed from about a 1.010, so I assume the fermentation is done.

I assume (if I wanted to), I could go ahead and keg, and then force carbonate...then enjoy! I know I should let it sit in the fermenter for about 3-4 weeks to settle, but my brother in law is coming in from out of town this weekend. I'd like him to be able to try it. Is it too late to force carbonate? Or should I just put it off until Thanksgiving. (I've already got another batch that can properly age while I enjoy my ale, so I prefer not to! )

 

[BulldogBrewer]

Based on your other post you are at what, about 9 days? I'd say it needs at least another week or two just to let everything settle out and clarify. I understand the desire to get to it quick, but it will really be worth waiting.

 

[Tall_Yotie]

That is just standard yeast and other wort stuff floating around. I think it looks awesome! I would drink it, love the color.

If it smells like beer and tastes like beer, it is beer. if it is infected it would taste like a pier on a hot day.

As for ready to go, I would give it still some time to clear and settle. Patience leads to even better beer. Remember, 3 days of the same hydrometer reading means fermentation is done. And even then, an extra 2 weeks helps clear the beer and make it even tastier.

 

[Andy_LV]

it looks like its still fermenting and actually will have a lovely color when its done.

 

[user 19629]

........................ I star san'd the nozzle, hydro, and flask all prior to drawing the sample. ...................

If you took the sample from a spigot at the bottom of the fermentor that would be why the sample is so cloudy.

 

[BSBrewery]

When I was done with the gravity reading, I poured it back in the fermenter.

Does anyone else do this? I just drink my samples (some, if not all, of it) so I can get an idea of the taste, etc before carbonation.

 

[Andy_LV]

I drink them too, its bad idea to pour them back - might get infected. and, its bad idea to just pour them out - its still beer!

jdlev, have you tasted it? if it smells nice, thats sign enough that its doing fine.

just to compare - here is sample drawn from the tap of the fermenter of the admiral's reserve fermenting since 18.09.2010:

as you can see, even drawn from the tap it has no floating yeasties, pretty much all is settled down and this baby will be ready to bottle by end of the week.

 

[v2comp]

if you have the capability, crash cool it in the fridge down to about 40F for a couple of days, it will become much clearer.
it will be better if you can let it sit for a week or so, but if you really want to drink it, go ahead and get to it.....

 

[cruckin78]

Does anyone else do this? I just drink my samples (some, if not all, of it) so I can get an idea of the taste, etc before carbonation.

same here I love to taste my beer through the stages. in primary, secondary, then finished, then aged for 4-6 months.

I save a bottle from every batch to age for a long time.

 

[Andy_LV]

if you have the capability, crash cool it in the fridge down to about 40F for a couple of days, it will become much clearer.
it will be better if you can let it sit for a week or so, but if you really want to drink it, go ahead and get to it.....

I would just wait 4-5 more days, if yeast is floating around, its still chewing on something

 

[jdlev]

I drink them too, its bad idea to pour them back - might get infected. and, its bad idea to just pour them out - its still beer!

jdlev, have you tasted it? if it smells nice, thats sign enough that its doing fine.

just to compare - here is sample drawn from the tap of the fermenter of the admiral's reserve fermenting since 18.09.2010:

as you can see, even drawn from the tap it has no floating yeasties, pretty much all is settled down and this baby will be ready to bottle by end of the week.

Liquid Gold!:rockin:

I didn't realize I could try it so early. I know it will be flat, but didn't think about checking the flavor.

I guess I'll just wait and let it settle. I still plan on running it through a filter...like maybe a 1 micron paint filter like someone suggested on another of my threads. I guess I'll take everyone's advice and just wait - it's at about 10 days right now...probably give it another 10-15 (I'll transfer to my carboy tonight). In the meantime, I still plan on getting started on my next batch - the sierra nevada!

 

[jdlev]

if you have the capability, crash cool it in the fridge down to about 40F for a couple of days, it will become much clearer.
it will be better if you can let it sit for a week or so, but if you really want to drink it, go ahead and get to it.....

10-4. I'll transfer to the carboy tonight, and in the frankenkegorator it goes!

 

[jdlev]

I would just wait 4-5 more days, if yeast is floating around, its still chewing on something

You could be right. I'll take a 3rd gravity reading to confirm prior to the cold crash.

 

[Andy_LV]

I still vote on letting it settle in primary without any cold crashes - let the yeasties work their magic. It should clear in primary fermenter in week tops without cooling it. I dont have huge experience, but so far all my batches cleared out in primary fermenter within 2 weeks. If your fermentation is close to complete, you should start seeing beer clearing within next few days. If you cool it and fermentation is not fully complete, you risk having beer exploding in bottles after you re-heat it - yeasties will go snack on remaining sugar and produce excess CO2 in addition to priming sugar.

As for pouring samples back - its bad habit, better have a taste -dont be discouraged by floating yeast, it should taste like a beer and if it smells great, I bet it tastes even better even flat and warm.

 

[jdlev]

Wouldn't the 3rd consistent gravity reading tell me the yeast is done? Besides...I haven't seen any bubbles in the bubbler in the last 4 days?

 

[SoonerDoc]

Besides...I haven't seen any bubbles in the bubbler in the last 4 days?

Careful. People get run off the board for comments like this.

 

[snevey]

Besides...I haven't seen any bubbles in the bubbler in the last 4 days?

:::In a high pitched, ghetto voice:::
OH NO HE DIDN'T!!!

 

[jdlev]

:::in a high pitched, ghetto voice:::
Oh no he didn't!!!

 

[DrinkNoH2O]

Let it sit another 2 weeks. Don't cold crash it. Don't filter it. Buy some regional craft brew to drink with your bro in law that he can't get back home.