Tasted my gravity sample - 1st ever brew

[the75]

I just took a gravity reading off my 1st ever batch that's an Imperial IPA Maharaja clone & I cannot begin to tell you how utterly happy I am. No carbonation yet & I love it! Not sure how I'm going to wait two months for the bottles to finish, but I'll be bottling this Tuesday, then the wait. Before I express the joy that I'm feeling after undertaking the best hobby ever (outside of WordsWithFriends), I want to thank this community for answering any and all ridiculous questions that I threw up here. There will be more questions, but I at least try a search now before posting... I AM SO STOKED! On a side note, the rhizomes I planted in my garden are taking off too! I'm addicted. One month & 2 weeks since I decided to order equipment to brew & I'm already a junkie.

 

[JDFlow]

Amen, I can't thank all of the wisdom on these forums enough. The best we can do is pay it forward by helping out the new brewers after us by sharing our experiences. I had the same experience with tasting my gravity reading. Don't make the mistake I did and crack a bottle after a week though.

 

[Ingvaroo]

My first batch i opened up couple of bottles after about 3-4 days

Was way to excited, this is a fantastic hobby but you learn the meaning of "waiting" all over.

Cheers!

 

[troyp42]

I always open a bottle after 5-7 days just to see how its going. Usually there is some slight carbonation. I know its way to early but just cant help myself..

 

[JohnnySardonic]

Haha I do the same thing, i'm way too impatient: try one bottle at 7 days, one bottle at 14 days, and put two sixers in the fridge at 21 days. Yes, I may be sampling them too early, but ive learned how much beer can change after 14 days in the bottle

 

[troyp42]

Yeh its a good learning experience. Helps you to see how much the beer changes over time. Thats my excuse anyway..

 

[Kingfish]

Not sure how I'm going to wait two months for the bottles to finish, but I'll be bottling this Tuesday, then the wait.

60 days is not necessary. Put a couple in the fridge at 3 weeks and go from there. Make sure you put a 6er in the closet and forget about them until a year.

 

[H-ost]

On any other big brew 2 months would probably be around it's prime but since this is such a hoppy beer you will want to start drinking it around 3 weeks to 1 month. Hop aroma dissipates fairly quickly.

 

[the75]

60 days is not necessary. Put a couple in the fridge at 3 weeks and go from there. Make sure you put a 6er in the closet and forget about them until a year.

Thanks. I'm actually going to cheat from the "instructions". I'll be heading out of town on a fishing trip and taking a few bottles with me to share. The ones I'm taking will only be in bottles for 1 month, but by the time I get back, the rest will have a bit more time on them. Unfortunately, most of the guys I go fishing with aren't into craft beer, but at the very least, I'll enjoy them.

 

[the75]

On any other big brew 2 months would probably be around it's prime but since this is such a hoppy beer you will want to start drinking it around 3 weeks to 1 month. Hop aroma dissipates fairly quickly.

AHHH!! So THIS explains why I like Avery's version 16 SOO much more than version 14 & 15 which were made last July & December!

 

[drives_a_bike]

When did you brew this? You're going to bottle on Tuesday????? If it's an imperial IPA, there's no way it'll be done fermenting by Tuesday. I can't believe nobody noticed that.

as for waiting...You definitely don't need to wait 60 days. I'll check one at 14 days, then once at 21 days...it's usually pretty damn tasty by then. I totally agree with Kingfish though, put a sixer or a bomber in the closet and forget about it. I've got a bomber from each batch I've made (granted, that's only 3, but I won't drink them for a good long while).

 

[adamjackson]

Congrats! My Imperial IPA and Hefe are at 48 hours fermentation. Looking beautiful! I read a lot of books and online tips but HBT has been the best resource and helped me a ton and throughout my 1st brewing.You guys are awesome.

 

[the75]

When did you brew this? You're going to bottle on Tuesday????? If it's an imperial IPA, there's no way it'll be done fermenting by Tuesday. I can't believe nobody noticed that.

as for waiting...You definitely don't need to wait 60 days. I'll check one at 14 days, then once at 21 days...it's usually pretty damn tasty by then. I totally agree with Kingfish though, put a sixer or a bomber in the closet and forget about it. I've got a bomber from each batch I've made (granted, that's only 3, but I won't drink them for a good long while).

I brewed this on April 24th. I took my first gravity reading at 12 days & it matched my gravity reading last night at 19 days. I'm really glad to hear I can taste this thing earlier than 2 months! I'll remember to hide a 6er.

 

[the75]

Congrats! My Imperial IPA and Hefe are at 48 hours fermentation. Looking beautiful! I read a lot of books and online tips but HBT has been the best resource and helped me a ton and throughout my 1st brewing.You guys are awesome.

Thanks Adam! I'm going to try & get my second batch started this week, since my fermenter will be cleaned & ready to go after I bottle. I'm moving away from clones immediately, but not the kind of beer I enjoy drinking as I'll be brewing an IPA again...little less hops so more people can enjoy it, lol. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE HOPS PUNCHING THEM IN THE FACE?!?!?! I just don't get it...oh well.

 

[neosapien]

yeah, i've got a big 9% ipa made with 8oz of simcoe and 2 ounces citra that's been sitting in the closet carbing up for a month. It's finally starting to get carbed up to the point that it's delicious. I can't wait to crack these open in a few more weeks. The test bottles i've pulled have been ammmmmaaaaaaazing.

 

[drives_a_bike]

I brewed this on April 24th. I took my first gravity reading at 12 days & it matched my gravity reading last night at 19 days.

OH GOOD! The way you made it sound in your initial post is that you brewed it last night...I was worried! hahaha

Yeah just keep those beers going down the pipeline...I love a hop beat down! brewed my imperial ryePA on Saturday and after the dryhopping this beast will have 12 oz of hops! uff da! The wife likes IPAs, but this guy might be a little too much.