When To Bottle Part 2

[evering]

Hi,

I am brewing a Coopers Bav Larg. Fermintation started 16 days ago (average temp 18 deg). The SG has stabilised at about 1.012 now for about 3 days; however the airlock is very lightly bubbling away.

Should I bottle now? How long is too long in the fermentation kit?

thanks

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Hi,

I am brewing a Coopers Bav Larg. Fermintation started 16 days ago (average temp 18 deg). The SG has stabilised at about 1.012 now for about 3 days; however the airlock is very lightly bubbling away.

Should I bottle now? How long is too long in the fermentation kit?

thanks

famous last words - there is never "too long in the fermenter" with these kits. Not at this level anyway. Some lagers ferment longer than a month - the right time is when the yeast has finished its job.

If you are happy that you've read the SG correctly and it's the same for three days in a row, your beer is ready to bottle. 1.012 looks a tad high at first but we would need to know what else is in the brew (what non fermentables you have added).

When I'm worried that I might have bottled too early, or I'm bottling in spring /summer when the bottles will be stored at 25c or more, I undercarbonate in secondary. One Coopers carbonation lolly rather than two for longnecks. Then again, if I planned to drink the brew asap (all gone within a month) add two carb drops.

Ignore the airlock activity - its just CO2 coming out of the solution. Use and trust the SG readings.

 

[pint of lager]

Hi Nick, welcome to the site.

When your brew is fermenting, it produces carbon dioxide, most of this is released out the airlock, but some stays dissloved in your brew. This dissolved gas slowly comes out of solution and your airlock will continue to slowly bubble for weeks.

Use your hydrometer, if the specific gravity is stable for three days, you are right to bottle.

16 days in the primary fermenter will be fine. Many experienced kit brewers leave the brew in primary for 12 days before checking the sg over a few days and then bottling.

Keep reading the articles and airlocked posts in the different forums. These will cover your question and also many others you haven't yet thought of.

 

[albrews]

Hi,

I am brewing a Coopers Bav Larg. Fermintation started 16 days ago (average temp 18 deg). The SG has stabilised at about 1.012 now for about 3 days; however the airlock is very lightly bubbling away.

Should I bottle now? How long is too long in the fermentation kit?

thanks

hi, have a taste and feel if if it fizzy on the tongue or not.

bottle when it is not fizzy on the tongue. it works for me.

cheers, alan

 

[evering]

Thanks all - I will bottle tonight!!