What to do?

[Pohljm]

Ok so my son and I are trying our hand at beer brewing. Here is what we have so far. We did a Brewers Best IPA kit. OG was 1.061 @ 70 degrees, 6 days in primary and we are at 1.010 @ 65 degrees. these are right in line with the instructions although per the instructions FG is 1.014 - 1.017 so I am not totally sure that my measurements are accurate since it is a little tricky getting the hydrometer reading, but I figure its pretty damn close.

Now the dilemma. He will be going back to college in 19 days and we would like to at least have a nice cold home brew to send him off. But we figure we will have the bulk of the beer remaining. So...........is it better to leave the beer in the primary as long as possible, and bottle it with only say a week to carb up for the going away taste. knowing that it probably wont be fully carbonated for the taste but the bulk of the beer will be better in the long run............Or bottle it in the next couple days and let it carb up for 2 weeks or more knowing that it will be fully carbonated, but the bulk of the beer perhaps would have been better if left in the primary longer?

I hope that makes sense. I guess I would rather have 4.5 gallons of good beer and the taste be just ok rather than it all be just ok cuz we rushed things. or perhaps it doesnt matter at all?

 

[Smokeater233]

You didn't mention how long it has been in primary for, but generally speaking I like to wait at least two weeks in primary, if not three. With that being said, if it's been in a week or so already, you could bottle and it would be drinkable before he leaves. No it won't be the best brew you could make - many like to do three weeks in the bottle at least - but I assure you it will already far surpass any Bud/Miller/Coors concoction and frankly, if it were my son and we just started brewing together, sending him back to school having shared a homebrew for the first time together might be a real nice send-off. Don't take my word for it - I'm sure others will disagree - but I say, GO FOR IT!

 

[Pohljm]

I mentioned in my ramblings that it has been in the primary for 6 days at this point. And we certainly will be having a home brew before he leaves, I was just unsure if its best to leave in the primary for 5 more days and have a solid 2 weeks in the bottle to have better carb before he leaves, or leave in the primary longer and only have say a week in the bottle before he goes, less carb then, but perhaps have a better beer later when he returns.

Actually we tasted the sample we took for FG and it wasnt bad. tasted like a decent beer that you would find the day after a party all flat and warm!

 

[WyomingBrewer]

I say since you hit the FG you can go a head and bottle it. Condition in bottle for 2 weeks then enjoy it with your son. Most will leave it longer but you will have darn good beer anyways that will be almost fully carbonated to enjoy with your son. Next batches start being more patient, but you are on a tight time line right now. It should be fine, but I only have few batches under my belt so far. I have a friend here who does all grain brewing and his statement to me was that he will take green home brew over commercial anytime. He says once you hit FG go ahead and bottle for 7 days then have it. I just had a porter he made that was in the bottle for 8 days before opened and it was amazing!!! GO FOR IT!

 

[Smokeater233]

I'm just enough ADHD that I completely glossed over the 6 days - I agree with Wyoming that most (including myself) would leave it longer, but given the tight timeline, I still say GO FOR IT, and take the time next time around. One week of carb up will leave you carbed, but not nearly as great as it will be in two weeks...

 

[user 19629]

split the difference?
10 days in fermentor
9 days in bottle

 

[Pohljm]

Thanks for the replies! We will bottle with enough time to allow 2 weeks in the bottle before he departs

 

[arch1tect]

Pick up some carb tabs, siphon enough out for two beers and bottle them. Let the rest sit in primary for a minimum of 3 weeks to let the yeast clean up after themselves, then bottle the rest before he goes off while enjoying the beer you carbed.

 

[Beer_Guy]

+1 on bottle up just a couple NOW. Then a day or so before he leaves get together for bottle time and enjoy a sneak preview.