Bottle Carbonating IPAs?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by readzeppelin, Aug 25, 2016.

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  1. readzeppelin

    readzeppelin Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2015 Georgia

    I just bottled a Citra IPA. I want it to carbonate in the bottle which requires two weeks at room temperature with priming sugar but I also want it to stay fresh which means keeping it cold. What should I do?

    Is there a secret or do I just suck it up that my beer needs to stay at room temp for 2 weeks before I start to refrigerate it?

    I know kegging would resolve this but buying a keg and system isn't in the cards right now so even if it's the perfect solution it isn't one I can manage.
     
    #1 readzeppelin, Aug 25, 2016
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  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yes.

    Cheers!
     
    #2 JackHorzempa, Aug 25, 2016
    lic217, SFACRKnight, corbmoster and 2 others like this.
  3. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    I've read on the forum of several home brewers that bottle carb their IPA with no ill effects. If anything, the 1-2 weeks help them a bit. If you made good beer, bottle carbing them won't ruin them.
     
    #3 corbmoster, Aug 26, 2016
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  4. scurvy311

    scurvy311 Savant (1,135) Dec 3, 2005 Louisiana

    Kegging, as @billandsuz has said, "having a keg of beer in your house is cooler than the other side of the pillow." If you are on the lookout and are patient and a little lucky, Kegging can be had for a very small investment.
     
    #4 scurvy311, Aug 26, 2016
    billandsuz likes this.
  5. readzeppelin

    readzeppelin Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2015 Georgia

    Great thanks for the great feedback, I am going to keg and put them in on tap in a keezer that I hope to build. I just need to wait until we have the room and leave our city apartment. 3 carboys is about all I can justify having at the moment. Thankfully I have a wife that likes homemade do it yourself stuff and good beer.
     
    #5 readzeppelin, Aug 26, 2016
    corbmoster likes this.
  6. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    You are indeed a lucky man.
     
    #6 corbmoster, Aug 26, 2016
  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Not only leave it for two weeks, but going an extra two weeks will be extra conditioning time that should pay off for you. Many homebrewers are of the opinion that IPAs do well with a few weeks of extra conditioning, and not putting them in the fridge will help more.
     
    #7 PapaGoose03, Aug 27, 2016
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  8. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I bottle condition all of my beer, my IPAs seem to hit their sweet spot between 6 to 8 weeks in at room temps.
     
    #8 SFACRKnight, Aug 27, 2016
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  9. barleyhead

    barleyhead Devotee (329) Jun 5, 2008 New Jersey

    +1 to that. I bottle condition too.

    < 3 weeks - I should have waited.
    3 weeks - good but not great.
    4-5 weeks - better yet.
    6-8 weeks - very enjoyable.
    After that the hops mellow more than I would like, but is still pretty good.

    I'm always tempted to pour one early.
     
    #9 barleyhead, Sep 6, 2016
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