First Batch Update!

[Nate5700]

So, for my first batch, the Belgian amber ale kit that I got at my local shop, it fermented pretty hot the first 3 or 4 days or so before somebody mentioned the words "swamp cooler" and "fermentation chamber" to me. I was thinking I would bottle it next weekend, so I thought I'd try a sample of it today. So I sanitized my turkey baster and opened up the fermenter.

First think I noticed was that the top of the beer still had a decent covering of CO2 bubbles with some patches of yeast floating on the top. Looking at the sides of the fermenter it looked like the krausen had been over an inch higher at one point, and I could see the surface of the beer under the bubbles, but it made me wonder if it's still fermenting a little bit. I didn't take a gravity reading, though, I thought I'd start doing that a little closer to next weekend when I want to bottle.

So, got my baster and dipped out about a half-cup. Very pretty amber color, which since this was supposed to be a Fat Tire clone it looked about right. Wasn't sure what to expect when tasting, since it had fermented at such high temperature I thought it might be really fruity tasting, or even have some of the worse nasties that come with hot fermenting. But, it was actually pretty tasty. A slight hoppy flavor but well balanced over all. I think it will be really good once it's carbed and cold! And it was, unquestionably, beer. I made beer! Hooray!

 

[eanmcnulty]

Congratulations! You're hooked now! Welcome to the forum.

 

[Nate5700]

So how important is it for me to take gravity readings before I bottle this? If I bottle a week from today it will have been in the primary around 2 and a half weeks. I see a lot of people say they just let it sit in the primary for 3 weeks and then bottle without worrying about a reading. But like I said, it looked like there was still a little bit of foam on top today...

 

[beersydoesit]

It is important. The only way to know when your beer is done is with a measurement. (actually 3 since you're looking to make sure the SG isn't changing) You would "Probably" be fine if you just bottle but you can't be sure. When I read about bottle bombs, taking a reading doesn't seem like much of a hassle.

 

[kappclark]

Welcome aboard

I use a muck bucket and 75W aquarioum heater in basement to regulate ferm temp

 

[BmillaTheBrewzilla]

It is important. The only way to know when your beer is done is with a measurement. (actually 3 since you're looking to make sure the SG isn't changing) You would "Probably" be fine if you just bottle but you can't be sure. When I read about bottle bombs, taking a reading doesn't seem like much of a hassle.

This is true, but I think that if enough time has passed, it is possible to be pretty dang sure that it is safe to bottle. I definitely take a gravity reading and record it before I bottle. However, I wait three to four weeks after the brew date and my ales have always been at a low enough gravity to bottle. If the reading is something like 1.011 or 1.010 I know I don't have to worry about taking another reading in a couple days to see if it is changing.