This is only my second batch. I purchased the brewers best American cream ale. I put my beer in the primary last Friday. The directions say that fermentation will take between 4-6 days. My airlock is barely moving. I was wondering if it would be ok to bottle tonight. I will be out of town for a few days.i need to get it bottled up.
Fermentation Question
- Thread starter jmrut99
- Start date
Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:
An airlock isn't a great indicator of fermentation....do you have a hydrometer. If it is at final gravity, then go ahead and bottle. Yeast don't pay attention to time frames...the only way to know for sure if it is finished fermenting is to see if it has reached FG.
LovesIPA
Well-Known Member
No, you can't bottle tonight. Leave the beer in primary for at least two weeks before you touch it. Six days is WAY, WAY too soon.
You don't necessarily need an OG. I would assume it is an extract kit, in which case, whatever the kit OG is likely what you have. FG should be somewhere between 1.01 - 1.015 I would guess. As long as it is in that range and stable, you're good.
EDIT: According to that kit you should hit somewhere between 1.01 - 1.014. And for reference, your OG was likely between 1.049 - 1.053
EDIT: According to that kit you should hit somewhere between 1.01 - 1.014. And for reference, your OG was likely between 1.049 - 1.053
LovesIPA
Well-Known Member
No one's insulted 
We've all been new brewers and we know how easy it is to get impatient.
I forgot to take an OG reading on a recent batch too.
We've all been new brewers and we know how easy it is to get impatient.I forgot to take an OG reading on a recent batch too.
Just give it a couple weeks and let the yeast finish up. Ignore whatever instructions come with the kit, I can't possibly imagine why reputable homebrew retailers are still providing those obsolete instructions with kits still.
No insults at all...Yes...kit instructions suck! 2 weeks is a good time frame (gives the yeasts a chance to clean up any byproducts),and I heartily suggest you purchase a hydrometer if you don't own one...best $5-7 you can spend as a new brewer...
Quicker you get one batch done, the quicker they can sell another.
Thanks for all your help guys. I have a hydrometer but just forgot to take the reading. I actually have a refractometer too that I am going to try. I use the refractometers for my reef tanks. You guys have been super helpful. Guess that is where I failed in my first batch. Bottled per what the instructions said and it had a lot of off flavors.
rgauthier20420
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2012
- Messages
- 771
- Reaction score
- 70
Unless you have an OG reading, your refractometer will not be useful in this situation to give you an accurate gravity reading. Once the beer has fermented, there is alcohol present which throws off the refractometer reading. Even with the online calculators, you need to have a SG reading to plug in for the calculator to convert correctly to an FG with the refractometer. Your going to have to use a hydrometer for this.
Just as people have said, 2 weeks is a good minimum for bottling or racking as needed. A week longer will also give more time for particulates and proteins to fall out to the bottom but isn't completely necessary. But, the best way is to have a consistent gravity reading for 3 or so consecutive days. If you rack too early, you could risk bottle bombs to be mindful of that too.
Good luck!
rgauthier20420
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2012
- Messages
- 771
- Reaction score
- 70
Your right...it is not necessary....BUT I do this for a whole week after primary fermentation is done and get crystal clear beer!!! I know some brewers are not that worried about clear beer, but for me, it's part of the satisfaction of the whole experience. If you've the space, DO THIS :rockin:
One more question guys. I may have made a terrible newb mistake. I don't have a basement to put my carboy in. I had to ferment at room temps 72-73. During the aggressive stage of fermentation the beer temp go up to 76 degrees :0 Did I destroy this batch? Th kit came with a Nottingham yeast.
The yeast strain is 57 - 70. You didn't destroy it, but it may have some off flavors like esters and fusel alcohols, but it may not be too bad. Definitely let it ride and worst case you'll learn what those flavors taste like and know how to prevent them in the future and point them out for the benefit of others.
Doesn't take a lot of space, but a swamp cooler, will be a huge benefit as well. A rope tub from walmart and some frozen water bottles.
Doesn't take a lot of space, but a swamp cooler, will be a huge benefit as well. A rope tub from walmart and some frozen water bottles.
When people refer to off flavors, does that mean the beer is gonna taste like Milwaukee's Best Ice 
lol. Just kidding, will it be drinkable? Or does off flavors mean like a bad pungent flavor. I have no clue what ester tastes like. Also, can you give me more info on the swamp cooler?
lol. Just kidding, will it be drinkable? Or does off flavors mean like a bad pungent flavor. I have no clue what ester tastes like. Also, can you give me more info on the swamp cooler?the flaw that you'll most often pick up from high fermentation temps are the fusel alcohols, which will have a bit of a rubbing alcohol taste. Also, higher ferm temps produce excessive esters, so the beer might take on some fruity flavors.
rgauthier20420
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2012
- Messages
- 771
- Reaction score
- 70
jmrtu99, take a look at the HBT wiki thing:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/entries/swamp-coolers-and-temperature-control.html
I can't put the off flavors into words so perhaps someone else can. But by no means will it ruin your beer. It should taste very close to what your hoping and should be very drinkable. Good luck.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/entries/swamp-coolers-and-temperature-control.html
I can't put the off flavors into words so perhaps someone else can. But by no means will it ruin your beer. It should taste very close to what your hoping and should be very drinkable. Good luck.
To simplify that article, all you need is a rope tub (~$5 at Walmart) or rubbermaid bin that the bucket or carboy will fit in, add some water and some frozen water bottles. Change them out to keep the temp down.
