When to Bottle a Hefeweizen?

[smyrnaquince]

This coming Saturday, it will be 2 weeks since I started a Hefeweizen and 3 weeks since I started a Stout. Both are from extract (with specialty grains) and have been left in their primary buckets. These are the first two beers I've made.

I planned on bottling the Stout this weekend, having been told that 3 weeks is a reasonable time in the fermenter.

I've also heard/read that 2 weeks is reasonable for a Hefeweizen.

I plan to let both sit for 3 weeks after priming and bottling.

Should I bottle the Hefeweizen this weekend (at the 2 week mark) or wait another week?

 

[NWAleDad]

Bottling should be determined by the completion of fermentation. Have you taken gravity readings? You want the same value for two readings with 3 days in between each sample. If you have not confirmed that fermentation is complete you run the risk of creating bottle bombs.

As a side note, I leave all my beers in the fermenter for at least 4 weeks; this allows the yeast to clean up the beer.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I always leave my beer in primary 4 weeks, bottle condition 4 weeks, drink, repeat

 

[NorthRiverS]

Use your hydrometer to tell you when fermentation is done. I have had beer take two weeks to stabilize, and some take up to 4 weeks. You can't rush the process unless you don't mind risking bottle bombs. Let the yeast tell you when they are done. Use your hydrometer !

NRS

 

[supermoth]

+1 on the hydrometer. It gives you peace of mind, at least it does for me. That said, the reason I chimed in is because my latest hefeweizen was brewed on 4/30, bottled 5/14, and we started drinking it on 5/29. It's really tasty! I wouldn't change a thing, and I'm brewing it again in a couple days.

 

[wetzie]

+2 on the hydro becasue your fermnetation temps will have an effect as well. Depending on the yeast and the temps my stouts came out a little different and the time took longer to get the final gravity.

 

[Makeyermark]

Patience and Hydro readings is where it's at. The Hefe is probably good to bottle, but an extra week or two isn't going to hurt. I would be much more patient with that stout. Once it's in the bottles, let those puppies sit for a couple of months before drinking. I'll be bottling my Hefe tonight. Brewed it 4 weeks ago.

 

[themashedone]

I have a heff in secondary now i usually leave mine in primary for a week then to secondary for three weeks then bottle and leave for two to three weeks. However you can do solid primary for a whole month then bottle and let sit for two to three weeks. all that really matters is that your beer is done fermenting completely otherwise u r facing bottle bombs.

 

[rpetterson]

Hi there,

I'm letting my stabilize in the primary for a total of 3-4 weeks before racking into a container where I'll add the sugar and then bottle.

How much yeast should I take from the bottom of the primary vessel in order to give the beer its signature cloudiness?