So I drank this and is this okay?

[DrunkleJon]

It looks like a beautiful beer. If you are worried about infection look at the "show us your infection" thread. It will give you an idea of what a pellicle really looks like.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I thought before I was ready to bottle I had to take gravity readings.

When I first started brewing I took gravity readings every few days or so, because I thought that was what you were supposed to do. Now i take a gravity just before I pitch yeast, and another 4 weeks later when I bottle. Haven't had a batch fail to attenuate. If you're curious and must monkey, by all means do so but be aware that you are introducing more opportunities for infection.

 

[DrunkleJon]

And taking away from the amount of finished product beer. Please tell me you do not pour your sample jar back in the fermenter (mist of us drink it because we wanna know how good it tastes). Though I will admit to having just dropped my hydrometer into my fermenter for measurements when I was just starting out.

 

[ballsy]

When I first started brewing I took gravity readings every few days or so, because I thought that was what you were supposed to do. Now i take a gravity just before I pitch yeast, and another 4 weeks later when I bottle. Haven't had a batch fail to attenuate. If you're curious and must monkey, by all means do so but be aware that you are introducing more opportunities for infection.

You shouldn't obsess throughout the fermentation but should really take 2 readings prior to bottling (one about 4-5 days prior to est. bottle date, and then another one on est. bottle date) so you can make sure of ferment completion. I used to take only one at bottling b/c they always attenuated by 4wks, but my last one (RIS) unfortunately I already committed to bottling (sugar water ready, bottles and equipment sanitized). Now worried of over carbed/ruined beer just b/c I didn't want to do an easy SG check...not worth the time, effort, $$, & love given IMO.

 

[Aboo]

Don't worry about opening the lid. Everyone does it their first few beers, I promise. If they don't, that have some sort of alien mind-control going on.

I've had entire air-locks blow off and not realize it for 2-3 days because I didn't look in on my "bucket closet". My plastic fermentor's have popped their lids occasionally too. It happens.

I highly recommend testing your gravity 2-3 times prior to bottling. It's better to have a TINY risk of infection, then to risk glass bottles exploding. Just pop it open, grab your sample, close the bucket, then test.

 

[Dave37]

Don't worry about opening the lid. Everyone does it their first few beers, I promise. If they don't, that have some sort of alien mind-control going on.

I've had entire air-locks blow off and not realize it for 2-3 days because I didn't look in on my "bucket closet". My plastic fermentor's have popped their lids occasionally too. It happens.

I highly recommend testing your gravity 2-3 times prior to bottling. It's better to have a TINY risk of infection, then to risk glass bottles exploding. Just pop it open, grab your sample, close the bucket, then test.

Or invest in plastic fermenters with spigots. For me they are the best way to go. I initially started brewing swearing by carbons but now the simplicity of the buckets with spigots is really phenomenal. No auto siphon no beer thief. Want a gravity sample? Put your cylinder under the spigot and boom. Want to bottle? Add priming sugar to other bucket with spigot. Attach tube to fermenter spigot, boom.

Really simple. Amazingly easy to clean. Less likely to have an airlock blow out because of more headspace. Really a no brainer.

 

[Hello]

When I first started brewing I took gravity readings every few days or so, because I thought that was what you were supposed to do. Now i take a gravity just before I pitch yeast, and another 4 weeks later when I bottle. Haven't had a batch fail to attenuate. If you're curious and must monkey, by all means do so but be aware that you are introducing more opportunities for infection.

I was taking readings for bottling. I wasn't trying to play around.

And taking away from the amount of finished product beer. Please tell me you do not pour your sample jar back in the fermenter (mist of us drink it because we wanna know how good it tastes). Though I will admit to having just dropped my hydrometer into my fermenter for measurements when I was just starting out.

No, that would be seriously dumb on my part. I discard the sample.

Or invest in plastic fermenters with spigots. For me they are the best way to go. I initially started brewing swearing by carbons but now the simplicity of the buckets with spigots is really phenomenal. No auto siphon no beer thief. Want a gravity sample? Put your cylinder under the spigot and boom. Want to bottle? Add priming sugar to other bucket with spigot. Attach tube to fermenter spigot, boom.

Really simple. Amazingly easy to clean. Less likely to have an airlock blow out because of more headspace. Really a no brainer.

Sounds good. What do you recommend fermenter wise?