Is it really beer??

[s2cmpugh]

Hey everyone, so it's been 8 days in the primary since I made my very first batch of Bavarian Hefe. I kept the temp around 70 as best I could and took my first hyrdo reading today along with a taste test. No funny looking crap floating on top of the beer either!

FG reading: 1.012 (the instructions say 1.014 is final, so I'm pretty good I think)
I smelled my sample and it actually smells like wheat beer; good smell! Then I tasted, and it tasted kinda...strong I guess? Not like a blue moon, not close to a Paulaner Hefe....I haven't lost my lunch so I guess it's ok and needs to age a bit maybe?

Is a lower FG reading ok as compared to the instructions?

Thanks,
Cris P.

 

[Centexbear]

Leave it in the primary at least another 2 weeks and do your best not to peek.

 

[shanecb]

Lower FG reading is fine. .002 points isn't a DRASTIC difference. It'd be a little dryer and alcoholic than originally intended, but probably not very (if at all) noticeable.

Yeah.. probably just needs more time to age. Patient is key.. although hefes aren't meant to be aged very long. But it does take time to develop.

 

[s2cmpugh]

Well the thing is that I have to transfer into my secondary since my primary is my bottling bucket. I was going to transfer to the secondary today and let it sit for another 2 weeks to age up a bit.

Good idea?

 

[COLObrewer]

Well the thing is that I have to transfer into my secondary since my primary is my bottling bucket. I was going to transfer to the secondary today and let it sit for another 2 weeks to age up a bit.

Good idea?

Sounds good, however the next thing you are going to want to do is put another batch of wort in that primary, while you're waiting for the other secondary to finish, then of course your secondary needs somewhere to go, so it's a viscious circle . . . . . You need more fermenting vessels. . . . . and some kegs . . . . . and . . . . and . . . and .. .

 

[dRaPP]

Going to secondary should be fine. It shouldn't need more than a week or so, since it doesn't need to clarify too much (its a hefe!). You could probably bottle after a week and let it age in the bottles while it carbs, but the longer you wait the better it'll be!

 

[Greyhound]

Yes, it is really beer. Congrats!

 

[Shooter]

I also believe that what you are tasting is known as beer.

 

[s2cmpugh]

Thanks guys! While transferring to the secondary I tasted again (before I had eaten a peice of chocolate, so it could have thrown off my buds), and man was it good! I could actually taste a hint of banana and I sware it's a bit stronger, but it could be the fact that it's still young.

Cris P.

 

[mlyday]

It will taste better chilled and carbonated. I tasted my red ale as it was going into the bottling bucket and was very disapointed with the taste. Carbed, conditioned and then chilled the bottles, now it pretty damn tasty. A month later they are even better. Start another batch now so some of current beers can age to perfection.

 

[Tinga]

i would suggest next time you do a hefe let it sit in primary for three weeks and then just go straight to bottles and let those sit for another three weeks.

secondary is not really needed for a hefe unless youre adding fruit or something. if you let the beer sit on primary for longer it will clean up the off flavors and will be easier. not as much fun but easier.