My first brew

[GHBWNY]

My directions indicate primary 2 weeks, bottle for 2 weeks, drink.
Someone suggested primary 3 weeks, bottle 3 weeks, drink.

or is it all a matter of when you hit the FG?

Any potential harm by leaving the must in a sealed primary bucket for an extra week?

From "How to Brew" by John Palmer:

After about 24 hours, the airlock will be bubbling steadily, the exciting evidence of fermentation. The fermentation will proceed like this for two to four days, depending on the conditions of your fermentation. The activity will decrease as most of the malt sugars are consumed by the yeast, though the yeast will continue to ferment the beer long after the bubbling diminishes. Leave the beer in the fermentor for a total of two weeks.

Meanwhile, RDWHAHB.

 

[halcyondays]

Personally, I leave mine in primary for three weeks then keg it. When I'm able to make a good, healthy starter, the fermentation is typically done after a couple days but I find I get clearer, cleaner tasting beer from a long primary. Just my experience.

Also, for boilovers, I suggest getting some FermCap, should be sold at your LHBS and works wonders to prevent boilovers. I've had a hell of a time cleaning my stove after a bad boilover. This way you don't have to worry about that when adding hops or getting back up to boiling after adding the extract.

 

[Pyg]

From "How to Brew" by John Palmer:

After about 24 hours, the airlock will be bubbling steadily, the exciting evidence of fermentation. The fermentation will proceed like this for two to four days, depending on the conditions of your fermentation. The activity will decrease as most of the malt sugars are consumed by the yeast, though the yeast will continue to ferment the beer long after the bubbling diminishes. Leave the beer in the fermentor for a total of two weeks.

Meanwhile, RDWHAHB.

I just worry about opening the lid on the primary after 2 weeks, taking a SG reading, if the must is not at its FG, then closing the bucket and repeating this process a week later.
Is that not too much exposure to O2?

 

[unionrdr]

Not if you do it quickly & have no air movement around the fermenter.

 

[muels]

Co2 is heavier than air. Don't promote air movement and you'll be fine.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[mark1765]

Well a little update on my first brew. I did what the directions said and left it in the fermentor for 3 weeks and transferred it to the bottling bucket Friday night. I then dissolved the bottling sugar in 1/2 cup of water and added to the bucket, stirred it in and bottled my first batch. Well in all of my research I failed to read that it needed to sit at room temperature before being refrigerated. So I put it straight in the fridge thinking that on Sunday while I was brewing my 2nd batch I could sample my first. You guessed it beer had a good taste but it was just flat. Called the supplier and was told it needed to sit at room temp for 7 to 10 days before refrigerating. They said to remove it from the fridge and let it sit for the 7 to 10 days and I will be fine. What are your guys thoughts, have I wasted the batch or will it be Ok?

 

[Pizzamaker]

Don't worry, it will be absolutely fine, just like your man said. Five to seven days in the warm, then about four weeks in the cool before drinking it works for me.

 

[Psylocide]

Don't worry, it will be absolutely fine, just like your man said. Five to seven days in the warm, then about four weeks in the cool before drinking it works for me.

That's pretty excessive for a beer that doesn't need to be cold conditioned.

14 days at room temp to carb/condition, chill for 48 hrs and you can pop the first one. You'll be fine, just pull them out of the fridge.

 

[soccerdad]

It's ruined. The closest safe disposal site to you is in south Georgia. I have influence there and I think I can salvage your pry tops. The swing tops will probably not make it back to you. Send me a PM and we will make arrangements.

 

[mark1765]

Thanks guys I was really mad at myself for not catching this before but you guys have given me hope. My plan was for it to be ready for the Big Game next Sunday but I guess I will leave it alone and let it do its thing.

 

[mark1765]

Well guys just a quick update, as I said I really wanted to have this beer ready for the Super Bowl yesterday but I also didn't want to risk the complete batch either. So I decided to put 2 of the brews in the fridge Sunday morning so that I could share one with my brother who helped me on brew day. I can't tell you how excited I was when we popped the top on the first one, and then the second with the same results. The sound of a well carbonated beer!! Poured them up with just the right amount of head and wow was it good. It was so good that I went back home to collect 10 more to ice down and share with friends. Everyone loved it and all I heard was praise about how good it tasted and to think this was my first one ever. I think I'm hooked.