What happens to beer when.....?

[arringtonbp]

After beer is done fermenting, when you leave it in the fermenter for a few more weeks, what exactly happens to the taste?

I took a hydrometer reading of my Northern Brewer Irish Red Ale extract kit after 2 weeks in primary. It had a very bitter aftertaste. I plan on leaving it in primary for 2 more weeks and bottling after that. Will the bitterness subside as the beer clears and bottle conditions?

 

[IXVolt]

The bitterness will level out some. After the 4 weeks in primary and then bottle conditioning, you'll be surprised how much the taste can change. Also temperature changes how we perceive the bitterness also.

 

[arringtonbp]

I took the sample that I used to check the SG and refrigerated it in a cup for a day just to see how it cleared up. Afterwards, there was about a quarter inch of sediment in the bottom (it was colored green, which leads me to think it's hop pellet residue). Is it possible that the hops are dissolved in the beer a bit and that it will fall out of the beer to make it less bitter?