I am two weeks into a primary

Cwetherford · Jul 5, 2011

I am 2 weeks into my primary of a cream ale and I have not seen any fermentation activity in over 4 days and I'm about to take a fg reading to see what it says should I still leave it or should I just bottle and let it bottle condition and if I do take it now and it's not ready what are the consequences if it's not ready please wb ASAP cuz I am going to be sanitizing my bottles and my buckets and caps

BrewerinBR · Jul 5, 2011

Seeing activity is not an indicator of fermentation. A hydrometer reading will tell you where it is in the process. Ounce the reading remains constant for several days it could be complete. I leave all my ales 21 to 28 days depending on the OG. The higher the OG the longer I let them sit.

trevor_b · Jul 5, 2011

You can do whatever you want. I primary for at least 3-4 weeks (for most ales), then keg/bottle. You can take a gravity reading and if it is not ready, replace the lid/stopper/airlock. Just make sure everything is sanitized when taking the reading.

NordeastBrewer77 · Jul 5, 2011

+1 You're better off leaving it 3-4 weeks. And only use gravity readings to that's fermentation.

onipar · Jul 5, 2011

Although I do like to take a hydrometer reading at 2 weeks, I still eave the beer in primary for at least 3 weeks. I usually take a look at 2 weeks just to see how things are moving along.

Irishbrewer11 · Jul 5, 2011

It is always best to take hydrometer readings every other day once you stop seeing activity in your airlock. If you get the same gravity reading 72 hours apart from each other, you are safe to bottle.

The worst case is that you over carbonate the beer, or less likely, some of your bottles explode from the extra pressure caused by the excess sugar in the bottles being converted by the yeast cells to Co2.