Give me a reason to not taste my beer yet!

[citingzero]

Got a Scottish light bottle conditioning. It tasted amazing when I bottled it. It's only been in the bottles for a few days but I really want it.

(Before I get flamed, I understand leave it in the bottle for a few weeks. I will taste a couple as the weeks pass to see how the taste changes. I'm just looking for a support group for my patience )

 

[fuzzy2133]

If you can wait you will have more bottles to enjoy later.

 

[tenbrew]

I say taste it - it will help you understand how a beer develops. Not helping am I?

 

[Hackwood]

Stolen form one of our HBT brethren: If you drink one now, it might be OK, but if left for 3+weeks it will be much better.

Basically, you can drink one now and it might be OK, but you are wasting a GOOD to GREAT beer just for curiosity sake!

 

[citingzero]

I say taste it - it will help you understand how a beer develops. Not helping am I?

I will be tasting periodically, for that very reason

@hackwood - I understand that but I am willing to sacrifice a couple for science. It's for science!!!

 

[NivekD]

Don't do it...let it sit...go out and get some craft beer and tell yourself that yours will be so much better after a couple of weeks. You'll thank yourself later.

 

[lowtones84]

I know you said give you a reason -not- too, but I say go for. Wait at least a week (since bottling) or two and then 48 hrs. in the fridge but then go for it. It will either be good and not a waste, or it will be bad and it will make you think twice before you do it again

Either way, it's your beer, do what you want with it. I don't do it anymore, but I used to find it interesting to see how it developed.

 

[Stauffbier]

Taste it and get it over with. We all have done it at one time or another. It's your beer, and you don't need permission from anyone!

 

[citingzero]

For clarification, I do need "support" but I totally plan on tasting it throughout the conditioning. I just don't want to drink the whole batch within a week of bottling (kegging in the past). I was just making conversation after having a few beers. It seems that this thread has taken on a rather serious tone. Just looking for "you can do it" or "all the girls will love you if you wait" type of support. Please don't ban me for wasting bandwidth

 

[citingzero]

But thanks for the responses!

 

[rajun50]

I think it's a great way to see how your beer's coming along. People worry too much, myself included, but the great thing about homebrewing is that if you run out of beer, you can just make some more! Of course, try not to wait until you're out before you start making the next batch

 

[dpatrickv]

Personally I always pop open a bottle about 5-7 days into the bottle conditioning process to check how its coming along. Go ahead and pop one, but don't be surprised if they aren't carbed or ready yet.

 

[Felixio]

I, too, have an empty beer supply line. My first brew is bottle conditioning right now and that is why I ran out last night an picked up a six pack of something new...... I needed a distraction.

 

[JLem]

Just drink one...like Jim Koch, you can make more!

 

[krackin]

Wait a week if you can then try 1. Wait another week then try another 1. You may as well learn why the common wisdom is patience.

 

[darrenbrews]

I say taste one at 1st week, another at 2nd week, then another at third week, you'll notice the improvement as the weeks go on. And it's educational. Once you see the improvement between 1st and 2nd week you'll never want to waste your beer by drinking on the first week.

Next Saturday is 3 weeks for my red ale. I'll have a few.

 

[Ridire]

I have been proud of my patience so far on my first brew. Four weeks in the fermenter and then bottled 12 days ago. But the patience ran out last night and I stuck two bottles in the fridge. I will drink the first tomorrow, after 48 hours in the fridge and the other on Saturday. I plan to stick about 20 in the fridge next Wednesday night, leaving me about a case to condition even longer.

 

[Yooper]

You still have patience!

My beers are often gone by the time they are three-four weeks old, depending on the style and if they are meant to be drunk fresh. I'd never be able to wait a month to drink a bottle of beer for most of them!

 

[Ridire]

You still have patience!

My beers are often gone by the time they are three-four weeks old, depending on the style and if they are meant to be drunk fresh. I'd never be able to wait a month to drink a bottle of beer for most of them!

The problem with my patience is that I now have another 5 gallon batch that I am going to dry hop this weekend. Bottles are at a premium at my house right now.

 

[Homercidal]

What are you afraid of? Just do it!

CHUG CHUG CHUG!!!

 

[homebrewdad]

Got a Scottish light bottle conditioning. It tasted amazing when I bottled it. It's only been in the bottles for a few days but I really want it.

(Before I get flamed, I understand leave it in the bottle for a few weeks. I will taste a couple as the weeks pass to see how the taste changes. I'm just looking for a support group for my patience )

It's your beer, do whatever you want!

If you want a reason to wait, here it is: every bottle that you drink now before that beer hits its peak is one less gret beer that you'll get to enjoy. It's that simple.

 

[Ridire]

What are you afraid of? Just do it!

CHUG CHUG CHUG!!!

Not sure what the concern is. I suppose after reading all the "my beer didn't work" from those who have cracked one open after one week, I should just accept it as something that will heal itself if it sucks. But, I will lose the dream of that magic moment when the first sip of my homebrew is clearly the greatest beer I've ever had...I know that isn't going to happen but I'd also not like to spit the first sip of my stuff across the room in disgust.

By the way, my wife is a Big Rapids Bulldog...but I married her anyway.

 

[broadbill]

It's your beer, do whatever you want!

If you want a reason to wait, here it is: every bottle that you drink now before that beer hits its peak is one less gret beer that you'll get to enjoy. It's that simple.

But you don't know where the peak is unless you drink some of them.

 

[MachineShopBrewing]

72 virgins will be waiting naked inside your refrigerator gently caressing your lovingly packaged bottles just waiting for it to condition fully and only if you stay strong and avoid the temptation will they give themselves to you.......

 

[jscardami]

Three reasons to drink it

1) If you made 5 gallons of it, then you have 50 or so bottles. Drink one.
2) It's your beer and there will be plenty left in 2 more weeks. Drink one.
3) It has alcohol in it and it tastes good already. Drink one.

 

[Ridire]

72 virgins will be waiting naked inside your refrigerator gently caressing your lovingly packaged bottles just waiting for it to condition fully and only if you stay strong and avoid the temptation will they give themselves to you.......

 

[MachineShopBrewing]

bwaaaaaaa haaaahhhaaaaaa

 

[homebrewdad]

But you don't know where the peak is unless you drink some of them.

Psh. Unless it's a beer that suffers from aging, it's not like the peak evaporates in a week or two.

Is there some magical peak that is supposed to happen prior to week 3 in bottles, that I have somehow been missing?

 

[NickTheGreat]

I always drink one at 1 - 1.5 weeks. Can't wait. It never tastes quite right, so I always wait another 1 - 1.5 weeks.

Doesn't make sense, but I am too impatient. And I"m normally a pretty patient fellow . . .

 

[homebrewdad]

I always drink one at 1 - 1.5 weeks. Can't wait. It never tastes quite right, so I always wait another 1 - 1.5 weeks.

Doesn't make sense, but I am too impatient. And I"m normally a pretty patient fellow . . .

Exactly what I was talking about. Again, it's your beer - drink it all in a week if you like.

I'll be a fuddyduddy and wait a little longer.