How soon can i keg after beer reaches fg?

[fun4stuff]

For an average wheat beer that’s 1.045. No dry hopping.

For this type of beer in the past, i usually just let it sit in the primary and keg after 2-3 weeks and then carb up for 2-7 days before i drink it.

But this time I’m on a time crunch. I’d like to have the beer ready to drink in 14 days exactly. I’d also like to brew a similar beer in a few days and have it ready after 10 days.

 

[kh54s10]

It depends. How much do you want it to clear by itself. Pushing it I would say hit FG, then another day or two minimum. You could use gelatin and cold crash but that takes a couple of days.

For 10 days you would have to get some cooperation from you yeast. I have had a couple that didn't finish active fermentation for about 7 days. So to take 2 gravity readings 24 hours apart that would put you on day 8, allowing only 2 days for carbonation.

14 days should be no problem. If everything goes well, 10 days should be doable for a beer like this one.

 

[beerlover77]

Most yeasts will ferment that beer in 3 days with a proper active pitch. For that beer you could Keg it right after FG if you really want. Myself? I would leave it 7-10 days from yeast pitch chill it and keg it. 30PSI for 2 days will carb it up nice with my system without agitation

 

[fun4stuff]

Cool, sounds like I'll be good for this one. I may just brew the second one and see. Wheat won't have to wait to clear...

Otherwise, I used to always cold crash and use gelatin but I've been lazy the last several brews. I never notice a taste difference. Most of my beers seem to clear anyhow after a couple weeks.

 

[beerlover77]

You still need to chill it before cranking up the gas or it won't carb up that fast

 

[fun4stuff]

Good point. That will add 12-24 hrs. I've had good luck force carb'ing in the past though.