When to bottle?

[Plinythelderphan]

I brewed a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale clone from grain on Monday, it was my first brewing attempt. I feel very good about the process. I have it fermenting in a 67-69 degree environment after being cooled to 70 degrees, it has a great color and odor and has been fermenting vigorously since Monday. The pace of its fermentation has not changed, it has been a constant temperature and I'm resisting all urges to "annoy" the process. I'm wondering what the general time frame would be to begin priming and bottling? I've read a very wide variety of information on the subject, but the information is all over the map and not consistent. Any wisdom from our more experienced brewsmiths?

Thanks!

 

[BobBailey]

Patience is always the best path to take. Don't even think about bottling until you have had it in primary for 3 weeks or 2 weeks in primary and 2 more weeks in secondary if dry hopping. I think that most here would agree that the last few beers from a batch are always the best.

Bob

 

[KISS Brew]

Give it a minimum of 3 weeks in the primary. Then, use your hydrometer to check the specific gravity two days in a row. If it's steady and <1.020, bottle away.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Ok, I gotta chime in and say if you're controlling temps and pitched enough yeast, there's no reason at all to leave that beer in primary longer than it takes to reach Fg and begin clearing. Yes, 3 weeks is safe, but that beer should be done in 7-10 days, tops. If it were me, and I've brewed a SNPA clone a time or two, I'd wait til I had a stable FG, and for the beer to begin clearing and then bottle/keg. A beer like that doesn't need 3, and definitely not 4 weeks in the fermented to be 'finished'.

 

[Plinythelderphan]

Ok, I gotta chime in and say if you're controlling temps and pitched enough yeast, there's no reason at all to leave that beer in primary longer than it takes to reach Fg and begin clearing. Yes, 3 weeks is safe, but that beer should be done in 7-10 days, tops. If it were me, and I've brewed a SNPA clone a time or two, I'd wait til I had a stable FG, and for the beer to begin clearing and then bottle/keg. A beer like that doesn't need 3, and definitely not 4 weeks in the fermented to be 'finished'.

How did the SNPA clone turn out? I'm quite excited to enjoy this brew.

 

[Gregwarro]

Personally I give all of my brews 1 week in primary, 2 weeks in secondary then a week in the bottle/keg to carbonate. However just because its carbonated doesnt mean its ready to drink.

After carbonation I usually wait a week or two. Depending on the big the beer is sometimes a month or two is better. But that is the great thing about home brewing, its all up to you.

I always crack a few not to long after bottling but I also save some for a few months and sometimes up to a year just to see how it ages. I would agree with what was said above, many times the last few of the batch really taste the best

Happy Brewing!

 

[theDeutscher]

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I thought I'd do the Google search for you.

 

[cadarnell]

Ok, I gotta chime in and say if you're controlling temps and pitched enough yeast, there's no reason at all to leave that beer in primary longer than it takes to reach Fg and begin clearing. Yes, 3 weeks is safe, but that beer should be done in 7-10 days, tops. If it were me, and I've brewed a SNPA clone a time or two, I'd wait til I had a stable FG, and for the beer to begin clearing and then bottle/keg. A beer like that doesn't need 3, and definitely not 4 weeks in the fermented to be 'finished'.

+1 ... the three week primary thing is over played on here IMO ... beers under 1.060 are usually ready to bottle in 7 to 10 days

 

[theDeutscher]

The pace of its fermentation has not changed, it has been a constant temperature and I'm resisting all urges to "annoy" the process.

No need to worry here. Move that fermenter to somewhere warmer like room temperature. You've gotten through the critical part where all the yeast growth and esters are produced. Let them warm up and finish out. You'll probably be fine with the temps you're at now but warming up now will insure your beer ferments out completely.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

How did the SNPA clone turn out? I'm quite excited to enjoy this brew.

The beer turned out very well, and the last time it was very close to SNPA. I began with the newer BYO recipe, the one using Magnum to bitter, and have been tweaking it since.