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jacob5023

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Dec 26, 2013
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About two hours ago I bottled my first batch of beer! For Christmas I got a BSG beer kit with a glass carboy. I made a true brew red ale kit with the liquid malt extract. It is sitting in my closet for the next week before I put it in the fridge for 3 more weeks. Tomorrow I am going to start making my next batch which is the amber ale. I'm super excited and really enjoyed making the first batch!
 
What are you going to put in the fridge in a week?

If it is the bottles, it is too soon. If it is the carboy, it is also too soon.

Do not put the bottles in the fridge until they sre properly carbed. At least 3 weeks, maybe longer.
 
The directions said to bottle the beer and then let it sit in the same place that the carboy was in. Then after a week move it to the fridge for 3 more weeks. It was an ingredient kit.
 
General rule is 3 weeks at 70 F. It can carb quicker, but it is not guaranteed.

What you really need to do is; when you think/hope it is carbed, toss 1 bottle in the fridge for a few hours, and then drink it. If the carbonation is ok, then you can put the rest in the fridge.

Once you cool it, the yeast go dormant, so if it is not fully carbed when you chill it, it will not happen in the cold.
 
I don't want to mess it up but I also want to follow the directions so I'm not sure what I'm going to do...
 
From my very limited experience (brewed batch number ten a half hour ago) I have yet to have a beer carbed with only seven days in the bottle. Typically my beers have taken two weeks to carbonate. I usually will bottle Saturday, throw two in the fridge the next Friday, and drink during the bears game sunday (not that I can do that anymore). I have yet to have a batch that I didn't think was undercarbed. But by the next sunday they are good.

I have only done extract kits so far and most of the time the directions should be taken with a grain of salt. Listen to what the people on the forum tell you. Welcome to your future obsession.
 
I don't want to mess it up but I also want to follow the directions so I'm not sure what I'm going to do...

then why are you asking, people on here know there stuff, listen to them.


as someone sed earlier, leave at 70f for 2 weeks, chill 1 beer and test. if its all good, chill em, if not wait longer.
 
You can accelerate the carbonation process by putting them in a warmer spot. Mine carb up fully in a week or so when I stick them next to the baseboard heat which keeps the temp around 75°+. Low grav brews will carb faster-3days for an under 4% beer is my record! Higher gravity = longer carb time. Usually best at 2-3 weeks as others have said. I know you are anxious to drink your beers-we've all been there!-but you will be drinking flat beer if you follow the instructions. Kit instructions suck. Period. Read How to Brew and practice patience or this will be a frustrating hobby man!
 
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