So, when can I taste it?

[Malty_Dog]

Just an observation because I know every recipe is different, but perhaps you can shorten the waiting next time by reducing the number of days dry hopping. Not sure how much more you gain by going longer than 5 days or so. Totally JMHO but I can identify with wanting to taste asap. Can't wait to taste my screwed up Belgian in case I made the greatest beer ever by accident, lol

 

[placated]

Like another posted said, it's your beer drink it whenever the hell you want. I tasted my first batch every 4 days or so. It was interesting to note how the flavor changed as the beer conditioned longer.


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[petrolSpice]

Try one now, and another in a week, and so on. If anything it will give you more appreciation of bottling conditioning and aging. I tried my first brew after being in the bottle for only 8 days. It was delicious, but now I'm looking forward to how it will (hopefully) improve with time.

 

[TxBigHops]

SWMBO and I often go to Austin for New Years just because we love the blues!

Where might one go to listen to your friend Rueben?

Tried to send you a PM, but your inbox is full.

 

[TxBigHops]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I do see both sides of the coin. For this beer, I think I will stick with my plan of putting one in the fridge next week. After a few days in the fridge it will be 22 days since bottling when I taste it. That's still a good week to week and a half early, so I'll have given it a chance to carb up, and also get a good idea where it's going. I've already learned so much from this beer. I'll wait for a later beer once all my other processes are dialed in to analyze the bottle conditioning process.

Well, I have capitulated to the pressure. Stuck one in the fridge this morning. 14 days in the bottle ought to have given it enough time to at least tell me something. If it's pretty close, I'll give it another week. If not, I'll give it two more. Stay tuned for tasting notes, and maybe even pics!!!

So how long does it need to chill? Obviously it will be cold enough to drink when I get home from work tonight, but I see recommendations to leave it chilling for 3-5 days or more. What is the purpose of the longer chill times? Is it just appearance, or will it impact the taste?

 

[m1batt1]

The colder it is the easier co2 dissolves into solution. And the longer it sits cold the more that is dissolved. So opening a warm or barely chilled beer may make it seem like its not carbonated when it really is but it just escapes when you pop the top. I would say you're good for a tasting for sure with it in the fridge all day.

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[rodwha]

Something I've seen mentioned was to place it in the freezer for 20 mins or so. I tried it, but it didn't work for me… In theory it makes sense though.

I even tried freezer prior to opening, and freezer one day and drink the next.

Were it me I'd leave it 48 hours or more. 3 days would be much better as that's the rule of thumb anyway.

 

[TxBigHops]

So, I've got one vote for open it tonight (about 12 hours in the fridge), and one for keeping it in the fridge at least 48 hours. Anybody want to break the tie, or offer another suggestion? Leaving work right now and I'll be cracking something open in about an hour.

 

[m1batt1]

Looks like your vote broke the tie lol.

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[rodwha]

If you do decide to open it tonight might I suggest what others have suggested, which is to place it in the freezer for ~20 mins? It seemed to work for them, though I didn't notice it, but the theory seems a bit sound, and it certainly can't hurt.

 

[TxBigHops]

Looks like your vote broke the tie lol.

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Hey, I said I was opening something - just don't know what yet. So c'mon, still need somebody to break the tie. I'll take rodwha's suggestion and stick mine in the freezer. 20 minutes and counting...

 

[Tucker]

I like trying a couple if it is a new batch just to see how it is maturing.

 

[rodwha]

Well? Where ya at with this? Tasting it or waiting?

 

[TxBigHops]

Well? Where ya at with this? Tasting it or waiting?

I opened it. Knew as soon as I popped the cap that it wasn't carbed yet. I considered recapping, but then changed my mind and poured it. Beer is still green, so now I know, no more experiments for another two weeks, and then three full days in the fridge. I think this was just too big of a beer to expect it to be ready this soon.

Now beer number two was a much smaller blonde ale at 4.2%, so I'll probably try it after 14 days in the bottle also, for a comparison. But I will let it chill for at least two full days.

 

[rodwha]

I knew it!

 

[DeBAD]

Now you know bro! That was the whole point. This isn't your last batch and we all have to learn on our own.

Brew on bro!

 

[TxBigHops]

Well, I drank a fully carbonated home brew tonight!!! Not from my first batch; from my second. My centennial ale has only been in the bottle for 12 days. It was a much smaller beer than my first - OG of 1.045. 14 days in the fermenter, 10 days of bottle conditioning, and 2 days in the fridge. THIS is the beer I should have brewed first! I would have been drinking it for a couple of weeks by now, and I wouldn't have been so impatient with the bigger red ale.

 

[m1batt1]

Looks pretty tasty! Good work and glad you're enjoying a finished product.

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[rodwha]

What was the FG on the Centennial?

Is your other beer ready yet?

 

[TxBigHops]

What was the FG on the Centennial?

Is your other beer ready yet?

FG of the blonde was 1.013. 4.2% ABV. Not even worrying about the Imperial Red yet. I'll put another one in the fridge to taste middle of next week. I dig go through the entire batch and turn each bottle over once to try and get the yeast back into suspension.

 

[TxBigHops]

YEE-HAA!!! The Imperial Red is carbed! And it's good too!!!

Not sure why the pic turned out so crappy, but at least you can see the creamy white head. I'm sure it will continue to improve but after 24 days of conditioning and another 3 in fridge, I finally have a hoppy beer to drink. The blonde ale above is just not to my taste. I'll save it for my BMC drinking friends and family who I'm sure will love it.

From memory, it tastes very close to what I was hoping for - Green Flash Hop Head Red. As you can see, I even used Green Flash bottles. This weekend I will do a side by side taste comparison with both Hop Head Red and Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale.