First Primary Only Attempt

[VAShooter]

This is my first attempt with a primary only brew and had a couple of questions about how to manage the process over the coming weeks.

I brewed last Friday, used WhitLabs Belgian Ale ( no starter ) Air lock bubbled for about 36 hours and stopped.

My question is, over the next 3-4 weeks when should I pop the lid to check on things and take a hydro reading? Visually, what should I expect to see after X amount of time?

It fermented at 73-75 degrees and post fermentation temp is at 68.

Any help / insight is appreciated!

 

[BendBrewer]

If you are going to leave it in there for 3-4 weeks, then don't take a reading until 3-4 weeks. I Primary for 4 weeks and just trust my yeast and process meaning I don't bother with taking a reading. I know it's done and it is what it is.

What you can expect is for fermentation to all but die, krausen will fall and your beer will slowly clear up as things fall out of suspension.

 

[motobrewer]

i agree

there's really nothing you can or should be doing to it anyway.

 

[Valcarde]

If you plan on 4 weeks, wait the four weeks. Maybe take a meter reading 3 days before your planned bottling day, and then a reading on bottling day, to verify that it hasn't changed.

 

[kgraber]

Glad you asked this. I was wondering this myself. I have a blond ale coming up on 2 weeks and I broke down and took a reading last night. Of course I sanitized the hell out of everything. Active fermentation is definitely done. At this point I'm just going to let it sit and do it's thing for at least another 2 weeks.

I've got a wheat that is getting close to bottling so that'll distract me for a short time.

 

[Revvy]

I don't take a reading til bottling day a month after yeast pitch. There really is not point, since one of the main points of long primarying is to give the yeast plenty of time to finish and clean up. SO there's no point in really needing to check on it.

 

[Golddiggie]

Personally, I would leave it alone for at least 2 weeks before taking a hydrometer sample. Taste the sample once you've taking the readings. If the readings are where your FG was supposed to be, do it again in a few days. If they're not there yet, give it another week. Repeat until it tastes ready, and the gravity readings are stable (and within range of what you expected)...

I have had brews finish below the estimated FG numbers (hit 1.010, when estimate was 1.015). I've also had brews that finished just above the target FG (1.018 instead of 1.016)... As long as it's stable over several days, it should be finished. Then it's just a matter of making sure it tastes right before you bottle it up.

If you're brewing in a bucket, you won't be able to see anything without pulling the lid off (something I hated every time I did it)... If you're using a carboy, then you can glance at the side and see what's going on (a plus in my book)... I do like to see when the yeast is showing visible signs of fermentation (not airlock activity, but on/in the wort) hence my lean towards carboys to ferment in.

Post up the recipe you brewed... Is this extract, partial mash, or all grain??

 

[Golddiggie]

I don't take a reading til bottling day a month after yeast pitch. There really is not point, since one of the main points of long primarying is to give the yeast plenty of time to finish and clean up. SO there's no point in really needing to check on it.

I did this on my last brew... Well, almost, I let the Irish Red Ale go 3 weeks on the yeast, pulled a sample, used the hydrometer, tasted it... Bottled it the next day. I am leaning more towards the Revvy method with each brewing... I have a Boddington's Pub Ale clone that's been on the yeast for almost three weeks now (will be on Saturday)... Planning on letting it go another week before sampling and probably bottle it up at that point. I could bottle this weekend (most likely) but letting it go an extra week won't cause any harm. It is a lower gravity brew (for me) at 1.054 OG...

The brew I started on Sunday is going to run at least 3 weeks, most likely four (maybe more). With an OG of 1.072, it could need the extra time to become really great. I am hoping to get a good FG (estimate is 1.020, but I mashed a little cooler, so I'm hoping for a lower FG)... That one could also spend some time on oak... I'll find out in about a month...

Remember, RDWHAHB...

 

[VAShooter]

Thanks guys. It's in a bucket so wasnt sure if I needed to peek at it once a week to make sure no infections, take a reading, etc. I'm sure my curiosity will get the best of me in 3 weeks or so.

After bottling - how long should I allow it to condition and at what temp? It's a Fat Tire clone.

 

[Golddiggie]

After bottling - how long should I allow it to condition and at what temp? It's a Fat Tire clone.

Minimum of 3 weeks at 70F for carbonating... Higher ABV value brews can take longer. Pretty much standard issue/comment for how long to bottle carbonate here. If kegging, give it two weeks at serving temp and CO2 pressure (to get your CO2 volumes) before pulling a glass from it.

I'm finding that my brews under OG ~1.065 take about three weeks... Higher OG brews (and with ABV values above ~6%) could take longer. I would pop one open after about 2-3 weeks (chill it at least two full days before opening) and see if it's carbonated fully yet. If not, give it a few more days, or a week, and test again.

 

[Thile]

I'd only take a reading at bottling as they've all already suggested. However, I have taken readings for me as a learning process in certain conditions as not every batch is going to ferment the same and my ambient temperatures can change quickly here in the south.

So if you notice something amiss, then I would check it. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother if everything seems fine along the way. I'm pretty confident in my process now so I don't worry, & have a homebrew!

 

[mlyday]

I say only take the reading at the end of the 4 weeks, except if the fermentation didnt proceed as you expected, as it may have stalled.

 

[VAShooter]

I say only take the reading at the end of the 4 weeks, except if the fermentation didnt proceed as you expected, as it may have stalled.

Well....my airlock was only active for 36 hours which seems a little weak compared to other post that I've read. The only way to know if it's stuck is to take a hydro reading, correct? I don't want to wait 4 weeks to find out that I'm stuck though. So....should I worry about a stuck fermentation after 36 hours of airlock activity....knowing that the airlock is not a very good guage to what's going on inside?

 

[mlyday]

Without knowing all the variables like type of yeast, how quick after pitching did it start, temp etc. Its hard to tell. So take one if you want. The only way you get experience is by doing it. Next time you brew with this yeast and under the conditions at your house, youll know if that is normal. 25% of the fun of this hobby is the learning, the other 75% is ... the final exam is drinking that beer.