Survived bottling - now what?

[MooDaddy]

Made it through the bottling process - AHS Double Chocolate Stout Extract Kit - with no major disasters.
I thought I was well organized and prepared until I started. It's like trying to bring Thanksgiving meal together and have it all the dishes hot and ready and on the table at the same time. Having a second person would sure make things go a lot easier and efficiently. But I learned a lot about what I think I did well and what maybe I could do better on the next, so if the beer turns out OK I will consider it a rousing success.

Question: Where do I store these 43 bottles until they are ready to drink? Cool and dark, warm and dark, neither?

PS: Original SG = 1.068
Final SG = 1.024

Don't know if these figures are normal for what I brewed, but they is what they is.

 

[bob1852]

at least 3 weeks at ~70*F; dark wouldn't be bad....

Congrats

 

[NorthRiverS]

I store mine in the upstairs bath tub just in case of bottle bombs. None so far, knock on wood.

NRS

 

[EarlyBirdBrew]

AHS should have the expected OG and FG on their instructions. You could see how you did by comparing the numbers. I store mine in the closet where my A/C unit is, I built a solid wood shelf that they are encased in and will be self contained in case of bombs. Plus it is dark and usually around 70 degrees in there.

On you stout you are going to want to let it sit in the bottles for a while to get carbed up and for the flavors to meld.

 

[Ringmaster]

Now The Wait Begins...

i've gone through the Budweiser factory tour about a 100+ times (I was passing by.. it would have been WRONG Not to go in..) and they've pretty much beat into my head that beer goes skunky from getting to much light and being to warm when stored.

Your going to want to keep it warm enough so that the yeast can do their job so fermentation temps would be cool but i hear the temperature is less of a big deal at this stage. But keep in mind they still need to carbonate and condition! The Yeast still has work to do!

Anyway, congratz on the batch! Remember the beer will only taste better with time

 

[dfc]

70° and dark is good for bottling.

 

[MooDaddy]

Thanks all - much appreciated. I put mine in an upstairs closet where the temp should stay close to 70 deg.

How common are "bombs"?

AHS stated on their instruction sheet:

1.056 for OSG

1.012 fro FSG

So I was .012 higher on both, with the change being exactly the same. I accidentally shorted the batch a quart in the beginning but don't know if that would account for the differences.

 

[idigg]

I store my conditioning bottles in cardboard boxes, and put the boxes in a enclosed plastic Rubbermaid container to keep it dark and warm. I have never had a bottle bomb, not sure why people have those issues.

 

[Hang Glider]

Thanks all - much appreciated. I put mine in an upstairs closet where the temp should stay close to 70 deg.

How common are "bombs"?

AHS stated on their instruction sheet:

1.056 for OSG

1.012 fro FSG

So I was .012 higher on both, with the change being exactly the same. I accidentally shorted the batch a quart in the beginning but don't know if that would account for the differences.

1.068 and 1.022? - off by exactly the same?
You might want to calibrate your hydrometer -