What factors affect the time needed for bottle conditioning?

[mikeljcarr]

I made a strong ale and it didn't taste good until it was 4 months old. I just did an imperial brown ale which has a pretty high ABV and after a couple of weeks in the bottle it's relatively cloudy and the alcohol taste is a bit sharp (lack of a better word). I'm hoping it'll get better in time but I was wondering if things like ABV, time in fermenter before bottling, type of beer, etc dictate bottle conditioning time? And if so is there any direction on how to determine how long a beer SHOULD condition to be prime?

 

[NineMilBill]

Definitely. Big beers like RIS, wee heavy, etc, definitely improve with age. ABV mellows out with time as well on bigger beers. Temperature plays its role in carbonation. If you're looking for a beer to taste better, sooner - try something much smaller - like a pale ale. Hefeweizens typically have very quick turn-arounds as well.

 

[user 108580]

Temperature dictates most flavors in the finished beer. The particular strand of yeast you use will secrete different chemicals at different temperatures which all contribute to taste. Over time, the yeast will remove some these chemicals if conditioned at a proper temperature. Just be sure to check what temperature the yeast strand favors. Also wouldnt hurt to do some research on flavor components and how to control them best during conditioning.

 

[BradleyBrew]

I think the better strategy is to brew big beers with very little off flavors to begin with rather then waiting for time to work its "magic." Not all off flavors will condition out. So if you have a hot or bitter alcohol taste, its probably going to be there for the deroration of the beers life. You need to ensure you do things in the beginning correctly. Pitch enough healthy yeast, aerate your wort (with o2 being the best), control your fermentation temperatures, and practice good sanitation at every step.

 

[unionrdr]

check out mky Buckeye Burton ale for timeline ideas. It's like 6.8%ABV & took a long time to taste ready,. As always,patience is a firtue.