Recipe vs Reality

[pigdog]

When following a recipe, do you ferment for the time specified, or ferment until normal signs dictate?
Are visible signs of yeast activity or bubble timing more important to pay attention to?

Or is it mind over matter?

My first batch seemed to be right on the recipe schedule, batches 2 and 3 are both still active and I'm a little past the timing that each recipe showed.

 

[bob1852]

gravity is the only thing that matters....not time, not airlock activity (or lack thereof).

 

[JonK331]

gravity is the only thing that matters....not time, not airlock activity (or lack thereof).

+1 and add some time for conditioning.

 

[Walker]

i just let my beer sit for a month, airlocks and gravity be damned. I don't even check gravity.

 

[pigdog]

that's been my instinct, thanks for the feedback!
now i know with bottling longer is better, but would i be completely crazy to try 1 cold one of my very first batch ever, after only 7 days? (i feel like i have to!)

 

[KayaBrew]

I check my gravity twice: once before it ferments, and once when I go to bottle it. What ever it is, it is.

 

[LVBen]

would i be completely crazy to try 1 cold one of my very first batch ever, after only 7 days? (i feel like i have to!)

No, we have all done it. I sample throughout the whole process..

sample pre-boil wort
sample post-boil wort
sample when dry hopping
sample before cold chilling
sample when kegging/bottling
sample the next day
sample 2 days later
etc.

 

[WhineinAlbany]

I just do 2 weeks primary, 2 weeks secondary. Yes, I know some people don't believe in secondaries anymore, but I swear it makes the beer clearer. Plus I don't want to waste my 5 gallon carboys.

 

[rjwhite41]

I generally leave it for a month and then I'll check the gravity right before kegging.