Properly carbed beer

[CoMoBeer]

I'm new at brewing, having recently successfully completed one brew and getting ready to try my second. Before I start my second, however, I thought I would ask a quesrion about proper carbonation.

My first beer was from an all grain kit, an Everyday IPA from Brooklyn Brew Company. The recipe called for honey while bottling, and since we actually had a little less beer than what the recipe called for, we used a little bit less.

After two weeks of waiting for the beer to finish bottle conditioning (what the recipe called for) we opened the beer and it turned out pretty good. However, it definitely seemed over carbed. However, I'm drinking one tonight from that batch, and the carbonation seems just right. As of this post, it's been 2 months since I bottled.

My question is was two weeks too soon? Does carbination go down over time? I noticed that every Brooklyn recipe says wait two weeks after bottling to drink, but I would think it should vary. Thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Math0]

I cant say in general but from my experiences, I did 2 batch with honey. One in secondary and one to carbonate just like you. I think you are mixing up over carbed and over foamy. I checked on the back of the honey, for 32g, there is 27g of sugar. I tried 10g/L of honey in secondary, let it sit for 2 weeks and it was way too much. The foam was huge. It is hard to get the right amount.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Chadwick]

I don't personally agree with the "2 week" and it's ready-to-drink philosophy you see splattered all over recipes for home brew. I think this is just plain wrong. I have found, without any exception, that beers always taste best when conditioned for at least 4 weeks or more. This is twice the time most directions indicate. I find the carbonation works out better, the beer has a much better character, and any off-flavors are better resolved after 4 weeks verses only 2 weeks of conditioning time.

Some beers need as much as 8-16 weeks of conditioning time to really shine. This is especially true for high gravity beers.

My advice to you, take it or leave it, is to ignore the "2-weeks and its ready" approach and let your personal opinion begin with trying one beer at 2 weeks, a second at 3 weeks, a third at 4 weeks, you get the idea. Then after doing this experiment, determine for yourself what you think is best.

As another member of this forum has often stated, "Your best beer is the last one that you drink". This is true because that "last" beer has been given the time to age to its peak potential.

 

[Sbarnard80]

Agree with Chadwick. Going to depend on each beer you brew and your taste. I'm usually too impatient to wait past a week and even though it definitely gets better past that I like to enjoy the fruits of my labor as soon as possible. It's also interesting to take note on how it changes over time.

And to answer your question about carb, I doubt the carbonation can go down over time but the smoothness of the carb/head may change with conditioning. This may have been what you experienced.