First Brew - A week into being bottled

[Leggoma]

I'm a very impatient person. If I had my way, my family would have all of their Christmas gifts opened a week before Christmas (my wife keeps me in check). Contrary to my character flaw, I do have willpower, I probably just have to exercise it more than the average person.

It has been just over a week since I bottled my first batch. I'm not going to open one until at least 3 weeks. However, being my first batch, I'm very curious about the beer carbonating. I have been holding one of the bottles (the same one) up to the light to try to get a peek at what's going on. So I was just curious, is there even anything to see? Is the only time I will see evidence of carbonation when I open my first bottle? Again, I'm not going to do anything early, but I was just wondering.

 

[frankstoneline]

As the beer carbonates the yeast cells left in suspension feast on the priming sugar you added, making a small amount of additional alcohol and, more importantly, the CO2 that makes your juice fizz.
I've noticed that in lighter beers, when held to the light I can usually see a haze in suspension, and as the carbonation nears completion I can see the haze begin to clear. It really only fully clears to provide a clear beverage after ample time in the refrigerator, but given a relatively brilliant beer you should be able to see some yeast doing their thing in there.

 

[Leggoma]

Yeah, it is hazy, so it sounds like that is a good sign. It is an amber, so it has a nice color to it, but its still light enough to be able to see the show.

 

[TTB-J]

You might be able to see some sediment forming on the bottom of the bottle, but watching beer condition is about as exciting as watching paint dry. I too watched my first beers like a hawk while they conditioned, I was surprised the hear the hiss of carbonation when I opened that first one a couple of weeks in because I couldn't see any difference from when I first capped them.

 

[Leggoma]

You might be able to see some sediment forming on the bottom of the bottle, but watching beer condition is about as exciting as watching paint dry. I too watched my first beers like a hawk while they conditioned, I was surprised the hear the hiss of carbonation when I opened that first one a couple of weeks in because I couldn't see any difference from when I first capped them.

Yeah, other than the haze, I can't tell anything by looking at it. I guess I'll be praying for that hiss. I know it will be there, but its one of those things I'll have to experience first hand. I'm sure I'll look back to this post after a few more batches and laugh at myself.

 

[BOBTHEukBREWER]

Frankstoneline - I have to disagree that bottled beer only fully clears after time in a fridge. I bottle all my beers and find that after 7 days at approx 18 deg C they are very clear - so clear that I would not seek to make them clearer.

Leggoma - next time use 3 PET bottles (tonic water, ginger ale etc) and you will be able to feel the pressure increasing. After just 24 hours, the pressure is very noticeable. Also open a beer tonight, and another in a week, to appreciate how beer tastes differently as it ages.

 

[Leggoma]

Frankstoneline - I have to disagree that bottled beer only fully clears after time in a fridge. I bottle all my beers and find that after 7 days at approx 18 deg C they are very clear - so clear that I would not seek to make them clearer.

Leggoma - next time use 3 PET bottles (tonic water, ginger ale etc) and you will be able to feel the pressure increasing. After just 24 hours, the pressure is very noticeable. Also open a beer tonight, and another in a week, to appreciate how beer tastes differently as it ages.

That is a good idea Bob, on both counts! I have plenty of the beer, popping one open and giving it a try would just be a drop in the bucket. Of course, as long as I can drink the whole thing, it wouldn't be a waste of it either.

 

[frankstoneline]

Frankstoneline - I have to disagree that bottled beer only fully clears after time in a fridge. I bottle all my beers and find that after 7 days at approx 18 deg C they are very clear - so clear that I would not seek to make them clearer.

Leggoma - next time use 3 PET bottles (tonic water, ginger ale etc) and you will be able to feel the pressure increasing. After just 24 hours, the pressure is very noticeable. Also open a beer tonight, and another in a week, to appreciate how beer tastes differently as it ages.

Generally I notice a clearer beverage after time in the fridge, however lacking any sort of measured comparison I suppose it is possible my observations are of the placebo sort. I certainly agree that beer has essentially cleared after 7 to 10 days in the bottle depending upon temp and the yeast used.

 

[tre9er]

I've had two beers from a batch bottled just 4 days, and there was some carb in them. Not much, but they weren't flat at all. I iced some down last night (3) in case we drank all of the store-bought beer watching the SB (we didn't). Tonight I'll probably have one or two. I know it's not as good as it will be, but it's still good and it is nice to taste it as it ages.

 

[WhiteEagle1]

Make sure your storing the bottles in a room temp of at least 70*. Stored mine at 65* and found out 3 weeks later it never carbonated.....

 

[Leggoma]

I went ahead and popped one open. I normally don't drink prior to noon, but I made an exception in the name of science! I'm glad to report that there was carbonation! I think it still has a little more to go. There was a very small head to it, but could have held up a little longer. There were carbonation bubbles that lasted for the entire beer though. The best thing was that it was very drinkable! It wasn't the best amber I've ever had, but it was far from the worse.

So I'll crack another open at the two week point, then the three week point to see how the beer developes, and toss it in the refrigerator at that point! So i'm VERY happy to report that my first brew was a success. T

 

[unionrdr]

My beers settle out crystal clear a couple days after being bottled. no more than 7 days occasionaly. If they take a couple weeks to clear after going in the fridge,thy've been bottled too soon. Let most of the settling occur in primary. Mine are clear or slightly misty on bottling day. Just a dusting in the bottom of the bottle by fridge time. Patience is rewarded.

 

[Leggoma]

My beers settle out crystal clear a couple days after being bottled. no more than 7 days occasionaly. If they take a couple weeks to clear after going in the fridge,thy've been bottled too soon. Let most of the settling occur in primary. Mine are clear or slightly misty on bottling day. Just a dusting in the bottom of the bottle by fridge time. Patience is rewarded.

I racked to a secondary because the instructions said to do so. I'm thinking the clarity is a little better than if I would have kept it in the primary. However, after reading a few comments about racking to a secondary, I probably won't do so for my next batch.

 

[unionrdr]

I racked to a secondary because the instructions said to do so. I'm thinking the clarity is a little better than if I would have kept it in the primary. However, after reading a few comments about racking to a secondary, I probably won't do so for my next batch.

I can understand that with a 1st brew,you read the instructions so many times,you're about to burn a hole in the page. But the times given just didn't feel right. Came on here & found out I was vasically right. I only use a secondary now after FG & some further days of settling out if I'm adding oak or something. All the pics of beers in my gallery were cleared mostly in primary. Then the first couple days in the bottles.
So go ahead & try it this way,& see what's best for your process.

 

[tre9er]

It's so hard for me to leave the bottles sit. I drink a beer after a week and think, "there's nothing wrong with this beer." Which of course makes me want to just drink them!

 

[unionrdr]

It's also quite a bit of the "I can't believe I made this!" bit that we all go through. But at 3-5 weeks on average,it'll be hell & gone better.

 

[tre9er]

It's also quite a bit of the "I can't believe I made this!" bit that we all go through. But at 3-5 weeks on average,it'll be hell & gone better.

I forced SWMBO to try my beer after only 4 days in the bottle. I was like, "Just tell me it tastes like actual beer!" She did, agreed, but was not amused.. :fro:

 

[Leggoma]

I forced SWMBO to try my beer after only 4 days in the bottle. I was like, "Just tell me it tastes like actual beer!" She did, agreed, but was not amused.. :fro:

I wish my SWMBO drank beer. She's just never had a taste for it. Not even a lambic. I was shocked the other day while picking out my beer for the SuperBowl. She actually grabbed a hard cider. Maybe there is hope for her yet.

 

[ktblunden]

I'm also a week into the bottling of my first brew and I had to try really hard to resist the temptation to crack one this weekend. I kept telling myself to wait the full 3 weeks before trying the first one, but man was it hard to do. I had to convince myself that I'll be better served by emptying out some Kirkland bottles to make room for beer #2.

 

[Leggoma]

I'm also a week into the bottling of my first brew and I had to try really hard to resist the temptation to crack one this weekend. I kept telling myself to wait the full 3 weeks before trying the first one, but man was it hard to do. I had to convince myself that I'll be better served by emptying out some Kirkland bottles to make room for beer #2.

Yeah, I was going to wait too, but this thread gave me an answer I wanted to hear, so I opened one up to try it. So I can see the difference between 1, 2, and 3 weeks. The beer was good enough to drink after 1 week, can't wait to check how it develops.