When should I bottle?

[Jimmybrews]

I just finished my first brew! I bought the Caribou Slobber one gal kit from Northern. After one day I noticed no bubbles in the airlock, but had a clearly defined krausen. It appeared to go all the way up the jug and now, after 5 days all that remains is about 1/4 inch on top. I also see much sediment at the bottom of the jug. Realizing that it’s been only 5 days fermenting, but based on my description do you all think it’s finished? TYVM!

 

[davidabcd]

Congratulations on your first beer.
All seems to be progressing normally and well according to your information. I would wait nine more days (two weeks in the fermenter) and check the gravity if you have a hydrometer.
While the beer may be done fermenting after five days, it's best not to rush it, generally speaking.

 

[Jimmybrews]

Congratulations on your first beer.
All seems to be progressing normally and well according to your information. I would wait nine more days (two weeks in the fermenter) and check the gravity if you have a hydrometer.
While the beer may be done fermenting after five days, it's best not to rush it, generally speaking.

Thanks for this. Heading out to buy some additional supplies - a hydrometer includes!

 

[ncbrewer]

Welcome to HBT.
I'd suggest taking two gravity samples after 2 or 3 weeks, 2 - 3 days apart. If gravity is stable and in an appropriate range, and no signs of active fermentation, bottle. If it has dropped at all, wait a week and check again. If it hasn't finished fermenting when you bottle, it will finish in the bottles, producing gushers and maybe bottle bombs.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Realizing that it’s been only 5 days fermenting, but based on my description do you all think it’s finished?

My 1st brew was also the NB 1 gal Caribou Slobber kit. Active fermentation finishes quickly. My experiences with this recipe (or equivalent Moose Drool clone recipes) is that it's better when I let it set in the "primary' fermenter for three weeks. I also bottle directly from the primary fermenter.

The topic 1-Gallon Brewers UNITE! could be an interesting read over the next couple of weeks.

Observations on 1 gal carboy volumes:

• If you filled to the “ONE GALLON” raised lettering in the carboy, that is about 120 oz of wort and trub. Trub will displace around 8 oz of wort.
• Hydrometer samples will take up about 5 oz of wort per sample.
• Losses during bottling (including either starting the auto-siphon or left in the the auto-siphon) will also take up about 5 oz of wort.

When I occasionally ferment in 1 gal carboys, I always get a six pack (and typically 8 bottles).

For most of my small batches, I brew to a end result (12 pack) using a two gallon food grade bucket. I will scale the recipe to account for the losses I mentioned above.

If the goal is to maximize the number of bottles from a one gallon carboy, there should be a lot of information in "1-Gallon Brewers UNITE!" topic.

 

[Jimmybrews]

My 1st brew was also the NB 1 gal Caribou Slobber kit. Active fermentation finishes quickly. My experiences with this recipe (or equivalent Moose Drool clone recipes) is that it's better when I let it set in the "primary' fermenter for three weeks. I also bottle directly from the primary fermenter.

The topic 1-Gallon Brewers UNITE! could be an interesting read over the next couple of weeks.

Observations on 1 gal carboy volumes:

• If you filled to the “ONE GALLON” raised lettering in the carboy, that is about 120 oz of wort and trub. Trub will displace around 8 oz of wort.
• Hydrometer samples will take up about 5 oz of wort per sample.
• Losses during bottling (including either starting the auto-siphon or left in the the auto-siphon) will also take up about 5 oz of wort.

When I occasionally ferment in 1 gal carboys, I always get a six pack (and typically 8 bottles).

For most of my small batches, I brew to a end result (12 pack) using a two gallon food grade bucket. I will scale the recipe to account for the losses I mentioned above.

If the goal is to maximize the number of bottles from a one gallon carboy, there should be a lot of information in "1-Gallon Brewers UNITE!" topic.

All replies are so helpful. Thanks to all. Will take your advice. I started this hobby bc I got really sick and home from work sitting on my butt. Better now but love this hobby. Thanks again to all. I’m going to be here for a while! Appreciate your help!

 

[JohnSand]

Welcome aboard Jimmy!
I'm glad you are finding our members helpful. Keep us posted.