Need help with fermentation to bottling time schedule (first batch)

[Ldav]

Hey guys,

I brewed my first batch of homebrew 3 weeks ago, using the Brewers Best kit and American Pale Ale extract kit.

My question is when should I move to bottling? It's been in the primary fermentation (5 gallon bucket) for exactly 3 weeks now. The instruction by BB doesn't give a great timeline.

It says I should move it to secondary before bottling, but I have heard that I should just leave it in primary then bottle.

Can anyone give me a rough time outline of what the usual fermentation to bottling time span is? I just want to make sure I don't miss time it.

Thanks for any help, really appreciate it.

 

[fartinmartin]

It's time when it's time, it's a date you can be late for, it's never too late, but it's good to be late, never do it early.
What about four weeks, then qualify with hydrometer readings , you need the same reading for at least three days.

 

[BigFloyd]

You should be good to go after 3 weeks in the primary (hopefully at favorable temps). No need at all to secondary this type of brew (or, for that matter, most types). If you have a hydrometer (you really should), take a reading to see if it has gotten close to expected FG.

I'd suggest that you:

1) Weigh out your priming sugar. Kits usually include 5 ounces, but that doesn't mean you should use all of it. If you have a full 5 gallons going into the bottling bucket, 4.2 to 4.4 ounces is usually going to get you about 2.4-2.5 volumes of CO2.

2) Be careful when you move the primary to where you're going to rack into the bottling bucket. The less you slosh it around, the less junk you'll stir up. When you rack, keep splashing the beer to a minimum. Introducing O2 into it at this stage of things is not good.

3) Bottle over an open dishwasher if available. Have a towel handy.

Congratulations on your first batch. Once it's in the bottles, give it three full weeks, fridge some for a few days and enjoy.

 

[Ldav]

Ok, great thanks for the replies. Sounds like I'm not crunched on time. So should I take an FG reading over the next 3 days?

 

[unionrdr]

At this point,after 3 weeks,yes. Take a reading,then wait till the 3rd day to take another one. If the numbers match,bottle it. Use a racking tube from the spigot on the primary (if you have one),otherwise use an auto spiphon to rack to the bottling bucket onto the priming solution. Here's the priming calculator I use; http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/priming.html