Fermenting Complete

[an123]

Fermenting seems to be complete. Would it hurt anything to leave the beer in the fermenter for another week before bottling?

 

[porterpounder]

Nope. Popular belief that ales can sit at fermentation temps for up to about 4 weeks on primary yeast without off-flavor development if the pitch and fermentation were healthy.

 

[SnakeRidge]

90% of my beers sit for 20 days before packaging. Fermentation is usually done in 3-7 days, but the extra time lets the yeast drop out and the brew to clear. As long as you're not going for months on the yeast cake you're fine.

 

[flars]

Fermentation is not complete unless you can confirm it with stable SG readings. Take two readings at least three days apart, longer for high gravity beers that may finish very, very slowly. If the readings are the same the fermentation is complete. More time in the fermentor will allow the beer to clear. No sense in putting a lot of sediment into the bottles or kegs.