Beginner question(s), fermnation, OG, aroma, etc

[Fungi]

This is a total noob question but how do I know when my beer is 'ready' to be bottled? I'm working on a Pale Ale (partial extract) and the OG was 1.052, and now it's currently at 1.018.... I transferred (its been in the primary for 8 days) it to the secondary so I can get something in my primary... the time between 'hiccups' is greater than 2 min... i dunno what my target specific gravity is... is it done fermenting... its pretty clear... it didn't smell as hoppsy as i was hoping... smells a lil sweeter (which makes sense cause I added a pound of honey to boost alcohol... but maybe I sacraficed body/bitterness?

clearly i'm still trying to try to figure this out... any thoughts, comments, suggestions...

Thanks!!!!

OG 1.052 Current 1.018

 

[hwilshusen]

Minimum time is when SG has been constant for 3 days. Longer is better.

 

[jwplessner]

Yep, careful with honey--can take a while to ferment out.

 

[Fungi]

so as it ferments out... will the SG rise again, or keep dropping

 

[TheBaconator]

You bottle when fermentation is complete. The best way to tell is have two gravity readings with no change(Although i don't think most people do this). Airlock activity isn't really a great way to judge. You're also jumping the gun a bit to get it bottled. Usually waiting a bit longer in terms of primary and secondary fermentations is only going to help your beer. Personally I try to primary for 3-4 weeks. Then put my beer in the secondary and leave it there until I have space to bottle it or keg it. Which is usually another month.

Your beer would probably have fermented out a bit more if it was still in the primary. It may or may not do much now, since when you put it in a secondary you separate it from a good bit of yeast that was in the primary fermenter. I'd recommend leaving it there for at least another 2 weeks or so and then bottle.

I wouldn't hold the smell to too high of a standard right now either. Your beer has to mature some more before its ready for drinking. It's also going to be a bit different cold and carbonated.

 

[Fungi]

Yeah air lock activity was low... but i would occasionally get these yest balls which would shoot up to the surface.... linger at the surface then fall back to the bottom....could i repitch some yeast? or would that further screw things up?

 

[jerryboy]

Leave it be, make the other beer and come back to this one in 2 weeks. Time is what it needs, imo.