I think my first beer is done

[outdoors76]

Alright I got a blonde ale that has been fermenting for 7 days now. And being my first beer I am ready to bottle. I pulled the lid off today and checked the Gravity was at 1.11 the abv was at 1. Before I put the brew in the ferminter the O.G. was at 1.48 and the ABV was at 6%. I also tasted the beer and it was fantastic. Can I bottle it now or should I wait another day. I know I should probably wait another week but being the first brew and all.

Thanks,

Erik

 

[NorCalAngler]

You should leave the beer in primary for at least two weeks, preferably three so the yeast can clean up some of the byproducts they produced during fermentation. You have to be patient or you will end up with disappointing beer and you will be back on these boards asking why you have off flavors.

 

[Yooper]

Can I bottle it now or should I wait another day. I know I should probably wait another week but being the first brew and all.

It sounds like you've already made up your mind to bottle, even though you acknowledge it would be better to wait another week before bottling.

It is probably finished, but you really don't know that for certain unless you get the hydrometer reading again in a couple of days. It may still be at 1.011 in two days, or it may be a bit lower. I wouldn't bottle until the beer was at least done fermenting, as proven by the hydrometer, and clear. If it's cloudy now, it will clear in the bottle. That means more sediment and crud in the bottle.

 

[Shooter]

I'm hoping you mean your gravity was 1.048, not 1.48. Otherwise, that's one heck of a beer you're brewing there!!!

It may be safe to bottle now, but I'd give it another week at least. At minimum, you should probably wait a couple of days and measure the gravity again to be sure it's not still moving down.

 

[outdoors76]

I didnt think about the sediment ending up in the bottom of the bottle I will wait another week. Just a little bottle happy since it is my first brew.

 

[max-the-knife]

It is hard to be patient even when you've got several batches under your belt! I've always do 1 week in primary, 2 weeks in secondary and 3 weeks in the bottle. That final 3 weeks were killers so I started kegging and shorten up the whole process by 2 weeks!

 

[outdoors76]

Should I put this Blonde Ale in the secondary alot of what I have read the secondary is more for lagers.

 

[brettg20]

Should I put this Blonde Ale in the secondary alot of what I have read the secondary is more for lagers.

I put all of my beers in a secondary for various purposes. Pale and Amber get dry hopped in secondary, blonde gets cold crashed in secondary. For this being your first batch, I would at least let it sit at least 10 days in the primary before doing anything. Racking beer into a secondary never hurts as long as you are super sanitary with everything you do. It gives it a chance to clear up a little. Believe me, I know it's hard to wait but you will be happy you did. Good luck

 

[defenestrate]

Should I put this Blonde Ale in the secondary alot of what I have read the secondary is more for lagers.

you can, but you dont need to. a lot of brewers here (including myself) do not secondary. just give the beer some time to clear on its own... your patience will be rewarded. brewing generally doesnt benefit from rushing anything.

when i brew my blonde, i wait until final gravity is reached (usually 7 days) let it clean up for a few more days, then i usually cold crash and keg by day 14.

 

[eddie]

Leave it in the fermentor for another two weeks. You patience will be greatly rewarded.

 

[KCBrewer]

Secondary is really a personal choice. I was under the impression it was a necessity on my first brews, until joining this forum. I don't bother anymore.

 

[Yooper]

I don't use a secondary unless I'm dryhopping or adding something to my beer.

I do secondaries with wines. In the case of beer, the second tank you transfer to is more accurately a "bright tank" or a clearing tank, where you transfer finished beer into another vessel to clear a bit.

You can transfer if you want, but I don't notice much of a difference between beers left in the primary for two weeks vs beers racked to a bright tank for a week. There are some risks associated with transfers, like the risk (albeit slight) of oxidation. So, if you're concerned about it you don't have to transfer if you don't really care to. Some like to transfer so they can start another batch in the primary. It really is a matter of personal preference.