Still don't have a hydrometer *sigh* should I bottle?

[emerex]

So, my Franzaskaner clone has been fermenting for 19 days, the recipe said to bottle it after 14, but there are still small bubbles coming up the airlock about once every 40-60 seconds. Will I make bottle grenades?

 

[Ace_Club]

a) bubbles in the airlock do not indicate fermentation or the lack thereof

b) if you don't have a HBS nearby, order a hydrometer online, as it is the only way to tell if your fermentation is complete

 

[emerex]

Well, working out of town, its either bottle tonight, or three weeks from now. So I'm stuck.

 

[Ace_Club]

Go for the three weeks option. The beer will taste better from the longer fermentation and you will be able to get a hydrometer to test the FG.

 

[emerex]

Thanks for the help!

I'll just have to be patient i guess

 

[Golddiggie]

Go for the three weeks option. The beer will taste better from the longer fermentation and you will be able to get a hydrometer to test the FG.

100% agree...

I would also get a refractometer so that you use the hydrometer less (and reduce the chance of breaking it)...

 

[Ace_Club]

100% agree...

I would also get a refractometer so that you use the hydrometer less (and reduce the chance of breaking it)...

Are you following me?

 

[emerex]

Thanks guys!

AAARRRRGGG I WANNA BOTTLE MY FIRST BATCH!

.....deep breaths....deep breaths......

 

[jetmac]

Nothing wrong with leaving it alone for that long.

 

[Golddiggie]

Are you following me?

Not that I could see... I think it's more a case of similarly twisted minds thinking alike... :rockin:

As for the OP... When you get back in town BREW MORE OFTEN... Build up a decent pipeline and you won't feel the itch to bottle too soon.

BTW, I've been letting my brews go 4-6+ weeks on the yeast... Loving the results...

 

[Revvy]

Your beer will thank you for waiting. Read this.

 

[jetmac]

Thanks guys!

AAARRRRGGG I WANNA BOTTLE MY FIRST BATCH!

.....deep breaths....deep breaths......

Being out of town will make it a whole lot easier

 

[emerex]

Yea that is definitely the plan, i bought a couple more better bottles yesterday so that I could keep a tighter rotation. Haven't even tried my first batch and already I'M HOOKED!

 

[ThePearsonFam]

LOL... Order the damn hydrometer so it's waiting there upon your return. While you're at it, order a kegging system and force carb your beer when you get home so you can drink it 3 days later!!!

 

[joetothemo]

LOL... Order the damn hydrometer so it's waiting there upon your return. While you're at it, order a kegging system and force carb your beer when you get home so you can drink it 3 days later!!!

Yes. You really do need the hydrometer.

Being out of town will make it a whole lot easier

I find that my proximity to my fermenter is directly proportional to my urge to meddle with it. Considering putting a lock on my ferm closet and giving the only key to my wife.

Also, I'm gonna need you to send me a hi-rez version of that profile pic.

 

[Homercidal]

When you order the hydrometer, also order a second fermenter. Thank me later.

 

[trevor_b]

Your beer will thank you for waiting. Read this.

Nice read and informative, thanks.

Since I will soon be receiving my starter kit from midwest supplies, I will only need the primary fermenter (it comes with a primary, secondary, and bottling bucket)? In which case, I can make two batches of beer and won't have to wait until the the first batch is moved to the secondary? I like that!

 

[Golddiggie]

Nice read and informative, thanks.

Since I will soon be receiving my starter kit from midwest supplies, I will only need the primary fermenter (it comes with a primary, secondary, and bottling bucket)? In which case, I can make two batches of beer and won't have to wait until the the first batch is moved to the secondary? I like that!

Depending on the size of vessel they send that they call a 'secondary' you could easily ferment another batch there. IF it's in the 5 gallon range, then just use a blow-off tube and/or fermcap to keep the krausen down and more wort in to ferment. If it's closer to 6+ gallons, then you probably won't need the blow-off tube/fermcap, at least not until you get a really active fermentation going. But, in that case it wouldn't really matter what size vessel you used (unless you put 5 gallons into a 10+ gallon fermenter)...

Having enough primaries/fermenters to brew every two weeks and have them occupied for at least 6 weeks is a great thing. If a brew finishes earlier than that, then it just means you have another fermenter free to fill. :rockin: It also lets you let some bigger brews go as long as they need before bottling.

 

[azscoob]

When you order the above fermenter and hydrometer, order a second hydrometer to avoid the 'I broke my hydrometer' syndrome.

 

[Golddiggie]

When you order the above fermenter and hydrometer, order a second hydrometer to avoid the 'I broke my hydrometer' syndrome.

I still say getting a refractometer will help your hydrometer live longer... For one thing, you won't use the hydrometer as much, thus reducing the risk of breaking it. For another, when you take your OG reading, you'll only need a TINY sample... When you go all grain, you'll also be able to take the additional readings you want, with ease... Bobby_M has them for a really good price... I'm itching to order mine from him, just need to hold off a little longer (funds low)...

 

[azscoob]

I need to pick one up from Bobby's site as well, and like you, I need more scratch before I can afford it

 

[Golddiggie]

I'm seriously tempted to just order it this week, or next... I want to have it before I brew again... Pretty sure I can use ground shipping and have it in about two days (think he's in NJ)... Probably going to reach out to him to see if he can help an unemployed brewer out...

 

[Homercidal]

If you can afford it, get a refractometer AND a hydrometer. Yes, they both do the same thing, but you can use the hydrometer to verify the refractometer and adjust the correction factor in your software. Then the refractometer is so much easier and faster than the hydrometer.