So, I finally took the gravity of my beer...

[CaliBuddha]

After 7 days in the primary fermenter I tested the gravity and it is at 1.013. In the instructions it says the final is 1.015. What does this mean to me? Should I bottle now?

 

[humann_brewing]

It means that you should wait another 3 weeks, take a gravity and if it is the same, bottle.

You could bottle it now, but you are going to have a better beer if you wait, patience my friend, patience

 

[Big10Seaner]

I would leave it probably another 1-2 weeks and then bottle. It is probably done fermenting but the extra time will give it a chance to condition and clear up a bit for you.

 

[annasdadhockey]

I would let it go at least another week. Sure, it's done fermenting, but the yeast still have a bit of cleaning up to do. If you can, wait 2 more weeks.

EDIT: Jeez, you guys are quick!!!

 

[CaliBuddha]

Ok, I was going to wait anyways seeing as how I dont have enough bottles yet, lol... I just wanted to taste it. Surprisingly, it smells like beer, ha, I was expecting it to be rank.

 

[jbambuti]

Once I started leaving my beers in primary for 4 weeks, I started getting much better results. There's no real risk in letting them stay that long, and it definitely lets the yeast clean things up. I just did an IPA that tasted ok after 2 weeks, but really excellent when I bottled it this weekend after 4 weeks.

 

[EricCSU]

Wait. You will be glad you did.

Eric

 

[Netflyer]

There is nothing like waiting for 3-4 weeks and then tasting right out of the fermenter... you realize, ok, I'm going to bottle/keg this stuff and carbonate it but.. it tastes good enough now for at least a good cupful.

If you wait you will be sparing yourself headaches, literally... The fusal alcohols in the young beer can give ya a nasty headache.

All that said, us guys telling you to wait have beer in our pipeline to drink! I can really understand the desire to drink that first beer from the first batch. Be strong!