Episode 008 - Is My Beer Ready To Bottle?

[lookin4space]

Okay, what if you just wait until the beer stops fermenting, or no activity in the carboy? Is it possible that even though there's nothing more going on, it is still making alcohol? How much longer after the activity stops could it still be fermenting?

[winespiller]

you say its at 1.008 but it looks to me more like 1.11/ whats the deal

[loknfwrd]

@winespiller I was not there, but it looks a lot like my hydrometer, the # 1.010 is just above the 1.010 mark. hope this helps you.

[dorf68]

You don't need a Hydrometer, Just let it finsh out. I never use one.

[sruddick747]

@dorf68 Better to use one as you never know if your setup is fully airtight. A hydrometer can't lie.

[ibander]

So when the reading is the same for 2 consecutive days that means its ready?? you werent very specific on this topic. thanks

[bmr21021975]

@ibander thats correct

[DocBrewster]

My kit instructions say to wait until SG gets down to 1.006 before bottling (or it might explode) - but its settled on 1.008 for 3 days so its clearly ready to bottle - i cant figure out why they would write that instruction about 1:006 - ive never heard about that anywhere else 9its a Coppers Homebrew kit - they are a mainstream supplier so they shouldn't be printing BS)

[bluemystic7501]

You probably caramelized your wort in your brew pot a little, therefore making it less fermentable. Coopers isn't BS-ing anyone, you're just new to the hobby.

[DocBrewster]

What are the consequeneces of bottling

1  a day too early?

2. a day too late?

[Vanamutt]

@DocBrewster Too late - you get vinegar Too early - Bottle bomb

[IGOTGRAPES4209]

So what reading should it be if I used an extact and its hefenwiezen? Its been in the fermenter for 6 days. Looks like the bubbles are slowing down. This is my first batch.

[weedme3]

When bottling - after I get my sugar solution all cooked up and I add it to the bottling bucket with my brew - do I want to give it a light stir to just get everything evenly distributed?

[vacilek]

you dont need to

[Turfarea]

Hey there, When I was transfering to carboy I took a reading of 1.020. Does this mean that I still have suger in the brew? I was planing on leaving in the carboy for roughly 10 days. Will longer time get my hyderometer reading down to 1.010? ThANKS, NEWBIE BREWER!!

[Valimaar42]

it's a good idea to leave it in your Carboy for about 14 days, it will settle most of the sediments in your beer. As well as give the yeast a longer time to react with the sugars in the beer.

[JaeTizzle]

Room temperature comes into play also. You have to correct the reading for excess high or low temperatures. Also different brews have different SG's so if you used a kit consult the reference sheet. If you do not see a change in the hydrometer reading then it should have fermented enough. oops you asked this 7 months ago. all well

[lerchy72]

thankyou you was a great help chers.