frementation

Hello! Yes, it should be done in about 2 weeks. (Depending upon your room temperature, it could be done earlier. If you have a hydrometer, after about a week you can carefully check it (sanitize!) every other day or so and when the specific gravity is constant over 3 or more days, then it is finished and you can bottle then. If you don't have a hydrometer, just waiting the 2 weeks should be fine (if your room temp is normal - 65F or more).

RDWHAHB (Relay, Don't Worry, Have a HomeBrew)! (Well, substitute your favorite for HomeBrew until you have some HB!) :)

Derric

I'm having the same problem. My first batch has been going for 3 days, but I promised myself I'd let it set for a full week before bottling.

Sure smells yummy tho!

:-)

general rule of thumb is 2 weeks for fermentation to complete, not one, so dont get too anxious. if you have a hydrometer, you can check the specific gravity every couple of days after the first week and once the specific gravity has stabilized, it's ready for priming/bottling. if you don't have a hydrometer, then 2 weeks is usually sufficient.

i generally "primary ferment" for the first week, transfer to a glass carboy, and continue from there until the brew is ready for bottling.

bob p

It's a cooper's kit and the instructions say to ferment for 6-8 days or until bubbling stops, then to bottle and condition for 7 to 10 days. Will my beer suck if I do this? What happens if I bottle too soon? I don't want to blow my first batch, I have nothing to drink but Guiness until this is done! Waaaaa! :-)

Thanks,

-- Jeremy Anderson (janderson at miletwo dawt calm)

btw - just wondering... is it frementation that makes your eyes turn that electric blue like in Dune?

I know what fermentation is... just wondering what frementation was...

:-p

6-8 days sounds a little short to me, but if that's what the kit says, then i'd follow the directions.

like i said, the best way to tell if the brew is ready for priming/bottling is to use a hydrometer to monitor the spec. gravity. when it stabilizes for a couple of days, it's ready. the old 'no more bubbles' is also a decent rough indicator that fermentation is complete.

bp

What will I find there that's not in "The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing?" I can't go to beer websites @ work (where I am now), so I'm just wondering.

Charlie's book is great and I've learned a ton, but there is nothing in there about modifying the instructions in my kit. I don't have a hydrometer or refractometer yet, so I'm relying on the "no more bubbles" technique. I know this won't result in "perfection" but I'm really just trying not to brew 5 gallons of dark piss at this point. I want to have a decent beer I can enjoy while I accumulate supplies and equipment for my next batch.

Thanks for the help, one and all.

I disagree...fermentations don't follow a set schedule. Pay attention to what the beer's doing and react accordingly.

Definitely!

-------->Denny

You will find correct, complete, up to date info. NCJOHB is a great book for giving you the confidence and attitude to brew, but it's rife with errors and outdated, disproven info. Don't get me wrong, I started with Charlie's book (like nearly everyone I know) and made some pretty good beer using it. But one look at How To Brew will show you how much has changed since NCJOHB was written.

--------->Denny

Ha ha, got it. "Chani's blue eyes are a Fremen trait." The original film was awesome. From the bits and pieces of the new one I saw a couple years back, it looked kind of cheesy. Can't beat the '80s IMO.

-- Dave "Just a drink, a little drink, and I'll be feeling GOOooOOooOOooD!" -- Genesis, 1973-ish