Question???

[Tippin44s]

I recently started home brewing and subsequently made my first home brew (simple ale) a little over two weeks ago. The beer was primed and bottled and has been sitting for approximately one week. Each bottle has about a half inch of sludge on the bottom of the bottle. Am i supposed to filter this? Was this caused by a mistake on my part? Is it normal? and can it be avoided? What am i supposed to do with it?

 

[steelcitybrew]

no mistake my friend

 

[502Brew]

It's just yeast. I'd recommend pouring all but the last bit into a pint glass, but it tastes like beer anyways so it doesn't make too much of a difference IMO.
As far as avoiding it you really can't if you're trying to bottle condition it. You can minimize it by racking to a secondary fermenter for a week or two though.

 

[Boleslaus]

If it only spent 1 week in primary you are going to have more yeast in suspension when you bottle and therefore more yeast caking to the bottom of each bottle. Let your beer sit for 3 weeks in primary and then bottle. You'll have much clearer beer and much less yeast in each bottle.

 

[C-Rider]

If it only spent 1 week in primary you are going to have more yeast in suspension when you bottle and therefore more yeast caking to the bottom of each bottle. Let your beer sit for 3 weeks in primary and then bottle. You'll have much clearer beer and much less yeast in each bottle.

And let it sit 3 weeks in the bottle at 70* before you chill to drink

 

[Tippin44s]

Okay thanks guys... Like i said this is my first brew and i didnt really know what to expect. Sounds like my next batch should sit in the fermenter a little bit longer.

 

[NorthRiverS]

That sludge is the yeast that was in suspension and produced the carbonation during conditioning. It continues to settle out for quite some time. After your beer has conditioned for 3-4 weeks, if you gently pour your beer into a glass the compacted yeast will stay in the bottle. Your glass of beer will be very clear. Enjoy !

NRS

 

[jgln]

Wow, that is a lot. Did you stir the beer before bottling? (just kidding, don't do that)

 

[Jaybird]

Sounds like my next batch should sit in the fermenter a little bit longer.

Yeah like 3 weeks or so. IMHO I try to go 4 if I can stand it...