top-up carboy before bottling?

[~Botanist~]

hey, I'm about to bottle my first batch, and due to the sediment my 5 gal carboy is only about 2/3 full. Should I top it up with cool water?? boiled and cooled water?? or bottle as is?

thanks,
b

 

[Blender]

I wouldn't recommend it unless you would like to water down the beer. If you make larger batches to begin with you can end up with 5 good gallons to bottle up or keg.

 

[~Botanist~]

Thanks, Gary.

 

[Captain Damage]

I think if you tried to top it up there's a good chance you'd wind up stirung up the trub, and it could take days to fall out of suspension again.

 

[~Botanist~]

Thanks for the input CD, I appreciate it.

I went ahead and bottled everything last night, primed w/corn sugar, and did not top up. I got ~42 bottles, so no worries.

I also racked it before bottleing and allowed time for any additional sediment to fall out of solution.

Now I just need to figure out how long to wait for the priming sugar to carbonate the brew before drinking. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

B

 

[Demon]

Thanks for the input CD, I appreciate it.

I went ahead and bottled everything last night, primed w/corn sugar, and did not top up. I got ~42 bottles, so no worries.

I also racked it before bottleing and allowed time for any additional sediment to fall out of solution.

Now I just need to figure out how long to wait for the priming sugar to carbonate the brew before drinking. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

B

Good rule of thumb is three weeks to carb in bottles.

 

[Blender]

Keep your bottles at least 70 degrees and they will be good in 3 weeks. I always liked to sample one after a week, then 2 weeks but patience is needed in this phase.

You should brew another batch soon to keep the pipeline full so your not drinking your homebrew to early.

 

[~Botanist~]

Thanks demon and blender I appreciate it.

B

 

[zacster]

I usually start drinking them after 2 weeks in the bottle, but they definitely improve as time progresses.