Question before bottling day

[tom9d]

Howdy friends,

Saturday is bottling day. Very exciting. But this is both my first five gallon batch and my first batch where I have a hydrometer...

I have a Northern English Brown going and it's been sitting there for three weeks. Do I need to take measurements on three consecutive days, or is it safe to assume that it's done?

I'll obviously take a reading when I bottle, but didn't know if the three days of measuring was more for people who do shorter fermentations.

Thanks!

 

[Doctor_Wily]

taking the readings on 3 different days tells you for sure if fermentation is done. If the reading is the same, the yeast is done with it's job. Realistically, you'd probably be fine to bottle if it's been sitting for three weeks.

 

[NineMilBill]

In all honesty, if you've hit your target FG, it's likely done. But YMMV, and bottle at your own risk. Everyone here has that little voice inside of them that reminds them the correct way is to trust the hydrometer. A longer fermentation has only a part in whether the beer is more "done" than a shorter one - because if the temp dropped low enough on a longer ferment to put the yeast to sleep, you could then bottle, warm them back up, and blow it.

Long story short, Target FG + reliable hydrometer readings = safe bottling.

 

[kh54s10]

IMO, take a measurement before getting ready to bottle. If it is as predicted you can proceed. If it is higher than predicted you can wait, swirl and wait, pitch more yeast depending on the severity of the problem.

This is the lazy/hazardous route. (and what I generally do.) 3 days of checking is the safe route.

I have been lucky in waiting 3 weeks, having a good fermentation then taking a gravity reading to calculate abv only. My FG's have been good and no problems.(knock on wood) The FG's have been as predicted by the recipes and the beers have been good to great!

 

[DrinkNoH2O]

Check it now (sneak a taste) then check it Saturday just before bottling. If they match and it's close to your expected FG you are fine.

 

[Calder]

I never take more than 1 reading before I bottle. I take the reading a day or 2 before I bottle, and if it is in the region where I expect it to be, I go ahead and bottle. If it is significantly different I try and understand why before I bottle, or take other action. Out of over 200 beers I've only had a couple that have not been finished.

 

[tom9d]

Good call...if for no other reason than I got to taste it and it's awesome!

Anyway, my target final gravity according to BeerSmith is 1.012 but I hit 1.016. Is it most likely a matter of attenuation? Or should I expect more? It seems like a pretty negligible difference. No?

 

[BrewerinBR]

I routinely allow my ales to sit 21 to 28 days before taking the first reading, usually when I dry hop and move to cool room for crashing a week before I bottle.
1.016 could be good depends on the OG and the yeast. if you get 75% attenuation that is normally a good fermentation for most ale yeasts. I would be concerned if the attenuation was less than 65% for an ale yeast.

 

[zeg]

Good call...if for no other reason than I got to taste it and it's awesome!

Anyway, my target final gravity according to BeerSmith is 1.012 but I hit 1.016. Is it most likely a matter of attenuation? Or should I expect more? It seems like a pretty negligible difference. No?

I don't think 1.016 vs 1.012 is safe to call negligible. When you add 5 oz of dextrose for bottling, you only increase the gravity by 0.002 or so. If your beer has 0.004 left to ferment and you prime/bottle, that could potentially give you 3x the expected carbonation if fermentation takes off again.

I'm not sure whether this is sufficient to risk bombs, but if I were you, I'd take a sample, wait a week, and check it again. You're probably fine, but I'd rather suck it up for an extra week than massively overcarb (or worse).

 

[StusBrew]

I take a reading after vigorous fermentation. You'll see yeast adhesion. (Floating up from bottom, some falling back down.) Note the gravity. Let it go 14 or 21 or 28 days or whatever. Take another gravity. See what the numbers are.
I've always taken gravity readings (and tastings, which perhaps makes me want to hurry and bottle it!) 3 consecutive days in a row, around the same time each day. One or two days after taken 3rd gravity reading I'm ready to bottle.

 

[tom9d]

Hm. I guess I should probably wait, then. My OG was 1.051, so my attenuation is less than it should be. What's the best way to get those last couple of points? Couple of swirls? Should the temp be on the warmer or cooler end? I was keeping it cooler during active fermentation but let it warm up to 70-72 this past week.

 

[DrinkNoH2O]

warmer end, 70-72 is a good temp to be at when you want it to finish those last few points.