novice concerns

[tameape44]

I am brewing my first ever beer, it's a hefeweizen and I just started it a few days ago. I am a little concerned about the quality because I had problems with my bottling bucket I was planning on fermenting in leaking so I am fermenting in a better bottle. My bottling bucket was about .8 gallons larger than the carboy and I was planning on the leak so I added too much water to the wort after the boil and when I transfered it to the carboy I had about a half gallon left over in my bucket that wouldn't fit. This has me pretty paranoid about the quality of beer im going to end up with. The first couple days it was foaming like mad and filling up my blow off bucket, today is day 3.5 and when I checked it this morning it seems pretty inactive and today the krauzen is gone and it's all looking pretty clear in my carboy. I was just wondering if this sounds normal for this point in the brew? Thanks in advance for help!

 

[hoppymonkey]

Sounds pretty normal. Probably just watered it down a bit

 

[Mnbeerfan]

I would wait a couple of more days then take a hyd. reading that will tell you where your brew is at. My experience with that style is that it seems to be ready faster. I think the worst that will happen is the ABV might be lower than expected.

 

[tameape44]

I would wait a couple of more days then take a hyd. reading that will tell you where your brew is at. My experience with that style is that it seems to be ready faster. I think the worst that will happen is the ABV might be lower than expected.

how much quicker do you think it will be ready to bottle? maybe after 10 days in primary? also, could i correct this abv problem by priming in bottles with some orange liqueur rather than just sugar? i read it has about the perfect amount of sugar in it plus the orange flavor would compliment the hefe well.

 

[Mnbeerfan]

The rule of thumb is if your readings are the same 3 days in a row fermentation is complete. I would just ride it out and prime as normal. My two cents is it's better to have less beer than weak beer if it happens again I would just bottle what you have.