How clear is clear?

[texag06ish]

The recipe I used says to wait for the beer to clear. How clear should it get? It should pretty cloudy, correct?

 

[JohnnyO]

Depends on the beer. Wheat beers tend to be hazy if not cloudy. Typical lagers are crystal clear.

You need to provide more details for anyone to give you the proper response.

First, how long has it been fermenting?
What type of beer?

 

[texag06ish]

It is a Saint Arnold's Christmas Ale clone. Per the recipe it has been fermenting for 2 weeks. 7 days in the primary and 7 in the secondary.

I would assume it the hydrometer reads the same as the FG printed on the recipe it's ready to bottle. Is that correct?

 

[PoppinCaps]

Make sure it reads the same gravity 2-3 days in a row, then you'll be sure. After bottling and chilling in the fridge after 3 weeks conditioning, it should be very clear.

 

[texag06ish]

It is a mini mash Saint Arnold's Christmas Ale clone.

The recipe says to leave in the primary for a week, secondary for a week and bottle and condition for 3 weeks.

While I'm asking, I would assume that as long as the hydrometer reads the same as the FG as the recipe, it's ready to bottle, correct?

Edit-meant to say three weeks to condition.

 

[scrabbler]

No, it's ready when you get two readings of the same value as mentioned above.

 

[PoppinCaps]

Agreed, you never know what your yeast can do compared to the instructions, given a large number of variables. Give it a day or two to be sure, and save the worry of exploding glass.

 

[unionrdr]

We all in our own time learn that the time tables in kit instructions are absolute BS. No way the average noob HB'r is gunna get primary done in a week. Or even older brewers for that matter. And unless fruit or oak chips or the like is being added a secondary isn't really needed.
And 1 week in the bottle? what planet does the fool who comes up with these instructions live on???
Leave the beer in primary till you get a stable FG over 3 days,however long that takes. Then give it 3-7 days to clean up by products & settle out more. When the beer is clear or slightly misty,you can rack to the bottling bucket. Bottles take a minimum of three week to carb & condition. I've found that 4-5 weeks is better. And 2 weeks initial fridge time is way better for thicker head & longer lasting carbonation.
These things are from direct personal experience.

 

[texag06ish]

What if I am kegging? I wanted to serve it a our Super Bowl party.

Planned on kegging and force caring.

 

[PoppinCaps]

Kegging will speed things up as far as conditioning, but fermentation rules remain the same. The longer it sits in the keg the better, but mine are drinkable Ina week force carbed. I'd work backwards from super bowl Sunday and plan accordingly.

 

[texag06ish]

Ok. 3 straight days with the same reading and I'm good to go? Also, how clear should it really look?

 

[Aunt_Ester]

If you're concerned about clarity, post a photo of a sample and we'll chime in.

 

[texag06ish]

Good idea. I'll post a pic tomorrow evening when I check the gravity.

 

[texag06ish]

Gravity read the same today as yesterday. I am going to wait one more day and keg tomorrow if it reads the same.

We tasted. It's tastes pretty boozy. Does that subside as you condition and carbonate it?

 

[Yooper]

We tasted. It's tastes pretty boozy. Does that subside as you condition and carbonate it?

No, "boozy" isn't good in most ales that are under 7-8% or so. It makes me think the fermentation temperature may have been too high.

 

[texag06ish]

It was in a closet inside of our house. Temp in the house is usually around 70-75 and we chilled the wort to 80 before we added any water.

I forgot to take the OG but the recipe says it should finish around 7% and that was before I added the alcohol boost.

Thoughts?

 

[PoppinCaps]

That might be a tad high. Next batch try keeping the fermentation temp around 65F, see if you get the same boozy taste. Keep in mind that during high ferment, the liquid temp may be at least 5F higher than ambient temp.

 

[texag06ish]

I guess this is why y'all brew in refrigerators.

 

[AdamPag]

well in all fairness, he already racked to secondary, it should be rather clear just at that.
Only your hydrometer tells the truth, trust him, he is your friend. Anyway you still have like 3 weeks until the super bowl so that should be just enough time to make it work out. Go Giants.

 

[texag06ish]

How was the clarity from my pic?

 

[unionrdr]

The clarity is pretty good right now. I say bottle it,& get it carbing/conditioning in time for game day! It should also clean up pretty well by then,ime. The flavors & aromas just need time to mellow & mingle.

 

[texag06ish]

Thanks. I'm going to keg it tonight and try the 30 psi for 24 hours and 12 for a week before drinking.