Gravity or Activity: Best Criteria for bottling

[Raygun]

When I bought my kit I was advised to wait to bottle until there was zero carbonation activity at the top of the fermenter - i.e. no visible bubbles clinging to the surface. But I've also read that if you get three consistent gravity readings close to your expected FG then you should be fine. In my fermenter (started the 1st), about a week ago I got a reading of 1.011, then 1.010 a couple of days ago. If I got another 1.010, would that be close enough to finished to bottle? I understand that it's the yeast's schedule and not mine, and I definitely am wary of bottle bombs, but I also do kind of want to get it bottled.

Edit to add why I'm asking: that there is a thin layer of CO2 bubbles around the rim of the carboy.

 

[geoffm33]

Always go by gravity. Consistent readings, days apart, in line with your expected FG as you mentioned.

 

[jbaysurfer]

I haven't really seen much from Revvy recently now that you mention it.

You really have to decide how much you trust the advice of the person who gave it too you vs. how much you trust what you've read. Because all you're going to get is more advice from strangers on this thread.

FWIW, this stranger thinks you should trust your hydrometer, which MEASURES gravity as opposed to your eyes which really don't measure anything. This stranger also thinks you'd be better off leaving your ales for a month and then bottling if your first reading is in the neighborhood of your expected FG. 3 measurements days apart is just introducing risk of oxidation or worse, infection to your beer needlessly. Again, I'm just an internet stranger, and this is my own personal practices/beliefs.

GL!

 

[duboman]

Trust gravity readings, after all you might simply have a stuck or stalled fermentation if you go visually and it may restart once its bottled, that would be bad

Sent from my SM-T310 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[ScottG58]

For the best results, I would use a combination. Gravity is probably the most important. You do not want bottles blowing up.

You also want to look at appearance. The yeast will drop and the beer will clear. I like to put clear beer in the bottle?

You want to consider taste. If it tastes green, leave it on the yeast a little longer. I bottled a Dead Guy clone that tasted of green apples once. Green apple flavor is a flavor that the yeast might clear up. That was my brat boiling beer. It never improved.

If in doubt with fermentation, give it a little more time.

 

[scottballz]

I am a big fan of leaving everything in the primary for 3 weeks. The fermentation is almost certainly done by then and everything is nice and cleaned up for you by your good friend, the yeast. Patience is a virtue in this game.

 

[Raygun]

My plan was to bottle on Saturday (so just over 3 weeks) if all the signs are right since that's when I'll actually have time to do it. I'll be more patient with the second batch, I promise!

 

[IL1kebeer]

for the best results, i would use a combination. Gravity is probably the most important. You do not want bottles blowing up.

You also want to look at appearance. The yeast will drop and the beer will clear. I like to put clear beer in the bottle?

You want to consider taste. If it tastes green, leave it on the yeast a little longer. I bottled a dead guy clone that tasted of green apples once. Green apple flavor is a flavor that the yeast might clear up. That was my brat boiling beer. It never improved.

If in doubt with fermentation, give it a little more time.

+1

 

[unionrdr]

When the beer reaches a stable FG three days apart,I give it another 3-7 days to clean up by products of fermentation & settle out clear or slightly misty before bottling. The trub & yeast are more compacted on the bottom of primary,so I get more clear beer in the bottling bucket.

 

[BigFloyd]

Gravity without a doubt. Airlock activity is nice to see, but it's not a reliable indicator.

For most brews, take the first reading at 14 days. Take another at 18 days. If they're the same, it's fine to bottle.

 

[Raygun]

To be clear I wasn't talking about the airlock (which I haven't seen much, if anything, come through in the last 10 days or so), but the advice I was given about waiting for no bubbles at the surface of the beer. But I'm sufficiently convinced that stable gravity readings are enough.