Must you bottle exactly at the end of fermentation?

[htims05]

Just took a sample to measure the gravity. Roughly 50 hours after yeast.

 

[htims05]

So if I do the math right with OG of 1.044 (guesstimate since I did it before adding water) to right now of 1.012...OG-FG * 131 = ABV means that it's 1.044-1.012*131 = 4.19%

I suspect that if I check the gravity in 3 more days and if no change is made...its done and ready to bottle???

 

[dwhite60]

Good color. Needs to settle a bit more though. I'd let it sit with the lid on for at least another week.

Did you taste it? Anything completely off-putting? If so don't worry, three weeks in the bottle and it will change quite a bit.

You're on your way!

All the Best,
D. White

 

[htims05]

Good color. Needs to settle a bit more though. I'd let it sit with the lid on for at least another week.

Did you taste it? Anything completely off-putting? If so don't worry, three weeks in the bottle and it will change quite a bit.

You're on your way!

All the Best,
D. White

No tasting - I will next time I test the gravity. Smells like a normal beer though.

Question on settling/bottling - I have a valve on my fermenter that's about 1in off the bottom of the bucket. Should I bottle via the valve and assume all the sediment will not be picked up as it'll be below the hole to the valve...or use the racking siphon?

 

[dwhite60]

Depends.

If you have priming sugar normal process is to boil it in about a cup of water for 15 minutes, let it cool, dump it into you bottling bucket then siphon the beer in on top of it. Use a spoon to do some gentle stirring to blend the solution but not get air in the beer. You then siphon from that into your bottles.

I, and many others, started using the "Domino's Dots" sugar cubes to prime. One in a twelve ounce bottle is perfect carbonation for your beer. Then you can bottle right out of your fermenter through the valve. The cubes are a tight fit in some necks but they can be forced without breaking the bottle (ask how I know).

Using the valve you will probably get a bit of sediment in your first couple bottles but the vast majority will be fine.

You do have a "bottling wand"?

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Jag75]

What did the instructions say the OG and FG were supposed to be? I have found that every one of the extract kits I've done were right where the kit said it should be. So if the kit says the OG should be around 1.044 then yeah you have a 4.2 abv beer.

You dont want to bottle from your fermenter because you have to add priming sugar and stir, which would rise up all the trub and crud. Unless you are using dots or priming each bottle . If so then yeah I'd bottle via that spigot. Use a small piece of tubing connecting your spigot with your bottling wand and your good to go.

 

[Jag75]

Sorry dwhite beat me to the punch lol.

 

[htims05]

Thanks jag and dwhite. Yes I do have a bottling wand.

Technically I have the priming sugar from the kit that I was going to put in my other fermenter (the kit I bought had 2 plastic buckets...I added a valve to the one that didn’t come with it) then transfer from the fermenter it’s in now via the valve (instead of pouring like instructions show) and then bottle from the second container’s valve.

OG per instructions is 1.043. I backed into my 1.044 based on the measurement I took of the concentrate and how much water I added.

 

[Jag75]

Cool deal . Just make sure when you transfer to the priming solution bucket use tubing that goes to the bottom so it doesnt splash inviting large amounts of o2.

 

[dwhite60]

Instructions showed POURING the finished beer? Nuts. Do that and your beer IS finished!

I think you did the smart thing adding the valve to the second bucket. Siphoning can be a pain in the arse. Now you can just run it from the fermentor through a hose into the bottling bucket. Be sure your hose goes ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM of the bottling bucket. You want to eliminate any splashing which will get air into your beer and give you oxidized flavors.

Remember with valves, lots of nooks and crannies inside of them. You need to be really thorough in cleaning them. Lots of people here use them without problems. Just keep them clean. Rinse well and sanitize well.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[htims05]

Remember with valves, lots of nooks and crannies inside of them. You need to be really thorough in cleaning them. Lots of people here use them without problems. Just keep them clean. Rinse well and sanitize well.

All the Best,
D. White

Presumably after this first batch or 2 I'll move to stainless fermenters and I'll be running 3pc valves on those....this plastic buckets have no way to clean the valves as they are cheapo plastic valves...I don't think they come apart.

Instructions showed POURING the finished beer? Nuts. Do that and your beer IS finished!

Well I think it say's siphoning and stirring and not splashing....might have been thinking of pouring the wort into the fermenter.

 

[dwhite60]

Everything I make gets done in plastic. I do not have valves on all my buckets only my bottling bucket. Bottling valve gets cleaned well, when I use it.

Something will eventually screw up but unless you forget the yeast or puke in the fermenter it usually comes out good enough. You have a lot to learn. Sounds like you are on your way.

Ask questions, most people here are very helpful. I've been doing this thirty years. I certainly do not know everything but I am happy to help when I can. Find a homebrewing club and participate.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Instructions showed POURING the finished beer?

FWIW, the online printed instructions state to siphon (step 18).

Block party amber ale is the recipe kit I'm using.

https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/block-party-amber-ale

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2...ckParty-1526670279765.pdf?8376444641436849713

18. Siphon beer into bottling bucket and mix with priming solution. Stir gently to mix—don’t splash.

 

[Alex4mula]

No tasting - I...

No tasting? Why? I drink all my samples starting with the initial one into fermenter. Nothing is lost! Plus helps you know if all is going well.

 

[htims05]

No tasting? Why? I drink all my samples starting with the initial one into fermenter. Nothing is lost! Plus helps you know if all is going well.

Because it’s my first batch ever and I don’t really know what to do or don’t do!!! Haha [emoji3]

 

[Alex4mula]

Because it’s my first batch ever and I don’t really know what to do or don’t do!!! Haha [emoji3]

No problem. I was there 10 months ago. Have done 20 brews. On first two you make some mistakes. Your beer will be good and only get better ;-)

 

[Saunassa]

No tasting? Why? I drink all my samples starting with the initial one into fermenter. Nothing is lost! Plus helps you know if all is going well.

I always drink the wort that I draw off to test gravity before draining into fermenter. Gives me an idea of starting bitterness and aroma. Then I drink the sample at bottling, well, because it is beer. Next time I will bottle up the sample so I can taste non carb against carbed beer.

 

[Imhoppy]

I always drink the wort that I draw off to test gravity before draining into fermenter. Gives me an idea of starting bitterness and aroma. Then I drink the sample at bottling, well, because it is beer. Next time I will bottle up the sample so I can taste non carb against carbed beer.

Agree completely. It's good to taste a sample during the various steps in the brewing process to better "taste" what is happening along the way. [emoji481]