Question about sediment...

[jaycruz145]

Hey all,

Sorry for the lack of correct terms, I'm still very new to all of this. I'm just about finished brewing my first batch of beer and I'm in the bottling phase. My bottles have about a quarter to half inch of sediment at the bottom of the bottle (after sitting for a week and a half to finish fermenting) and I was wondering if before pouring the beer if it's recommended to swirl up the contents. It's a hefeweizen and appears to be really pale until its swirled around, then it looks like a jefe should. Thanks for the input ahead of time.


-James

I've attached a few pictures of the sediment, the flip and swirl and the after color.





Clear color before.



Sediment at bottom of glass.




Flipped upside down and swirling.




Color after swirling it around.

 

[MalFet]

The sediment is your yeast. Generally, you want to let that sit down in the bottom of your bottles but as this is a weizen mit hefe (with yeast), you want to swirl that sucker up before you pour.

 

[deepcdan99]

Seems like a lot of sediment to me but I'd say taste it both ways, which ever tastes best. A majority of that is yeast, you drink it all up your going to be blowing some nasty gas!!!:cross: Next time let it set another week or more, more of the yeast will have dropped out. If it is a true Hefe yeast there will still be plenty in suspention.

 

[Gaidin53]

That is a lot of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. How long did you wait to bottle and did you rack over to a secondary? When you rack to secondary or bottling bucket you should try to leave the sediment sludge at the bottom behind. Every time you rack you'll lose a little bit.

Ryan

 

[jaycruz145]

Seems like a lot of sediment to me but I'd say taste it both ways, which ever tastes best. A majority of that is yeast, you drink it all up your going to be blowing some nasty gas!!!:cross: Next time let it set another week or more.

it's still in the bottle phase, I haven't opened any of them yet. Think it might get thicker or eventually disperse? should I spin all of them now? Ive got a week of them sitting still before I'm supposed to chill them. :-/

That is a lot of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. How long did you wait to bottle and did you rack over to a secondary?

Ryan

I only used a primary, for two weeks. I transferred as little of that sludge as I could but I guess it came over anyways.

One other question... How long do I have till the beer is no good?! I'm chilling it next week then I've got to get to crackin them open. Thanks or all the input guys.

-James

 

[deepcdan99]

Bootled beer will last years if stored cool enough. Once the sediment is in your beer its in there. It will either be suspended by shacking it up or sitting at the bottom if undesturbed. I'd leave them and wouldnt worry too much about it. Crack one open after a few weeks and let us know.

 

[JeremyMcGeehan]

I've only been brewing since October and consider myself somewhat of a beginner myself so take my thoughts for what you will. In my experience, if you leave the yeast sediment at the bottom of the bottle and drink it, the flavor will be slightly stronger as you finish it. If you swirl it a bit before you drink it, that stronger flavor will be more evenly dispersed through the whole beer. Once again, this is just my observations and what I've learned from talking to other brewers.

 

[jaycruz145]

. Crack one open after a few weeks and let us know.

One last question, I promise!! If I prematurely start chilling them instead of leaving them in the closet all wrapped up, will that stop the fermenting process? I'm getting the hankering to chill and try them, but I don't want to possibly ruin the whole batch! It's only been a week an a few days since I capped them.

 

[kh54s10]

The time it takes for bottle conditioning varies for a number of reasons. It usually takes at least 2 weeks to fully carb.

I usually go 2 weeks at room temperature then put one in the fridge for a couple of days and try it. I have had some that were fine at 2 weeks. I had one that had good carbonation but did not taste great. Another week fixed that one. I have one that has been in the bottle for at least a month and don't expect it to be truly finished for another month or so.

Time will tell. I have never tried a hefe but it is supposed to have a lot of suspended yeast. I don't know if you swirl the yeast or not. In my light ales I usually pour carefully and leave the last little bit in the bottle. I do not like the taste of those styles of yeast in the beer.

 

[jaycruz145]

Alright guys, I just tried one I've been keeping in the fridge the last two days and it has good carbonation but it smells a bit like chemicals you treat hair with. And the taste is very fizzy. I'm not sure if it was because I swooshed it around too much before opening it or what but I'm guessing from what you've all top me I should leave them sitting for another week to settle. Just an update I guess, not really a question.