Happy Sunday everyone got a quick question for you all. The directions for my IPA kit say to ferment for 2 weeks. It's been 11 days and the air lock has come To a halt. Should I wait a few more days or could she be ready for bottling? I'm also a bit anxious because I want to brew another batch but have to bottle the current one first haha. Thanks for your time everyone and have a great day!
You need to take a gravity read to compare it with your estimated final gravity, if it is near your predicted number then you are free to bottle, otherwise you will need to wait and take another read in a few days to see what is going on
2 weeks is the minimum that I would leave it in the fermenter, even if the majority of fermentation is finished, the yeast is still doing its thing.
Taking a hydro-sample from a 1G batch size is a bad idea b/c you can't return the sample to the fermentor. OP is brewing brooklyn brew shop's 1G every day ipa kit http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-to-home-brewing.236774/#post-3050621 Let it got the full two weeks before bottling.
One more quick question. Brooklyn brew shop says to shake after adding the yeast (which I did per directions) I've never heard of that method tho. I thought you always added the yeast and didn't touch it. What's everyone's thoughts on this?
Its a two fold approach. You mix the yeast in well, and you aerate the wort. You will normally oxygenate the wort before pitching the yeast, but it's taking care of two issues in one. Once fermentation is taking place you don't want to shake it or stir it, or any of that stuff, leave it alone. After it starts to ferment and is a couple days in, you can oxidize it.
there are a few absolute rules of homebrew, and of brewing in general. most of the great stuff is made by breaking the rules and this has been going on for a few hundred years now. but the few rules must be maintained. these are absolute. so learn and remember. the answer to your first two are provided, but there is more. (there is always more). yeast are elusive. they can be doing something and show it. or doing nothing and show it. or doing something and look like they have gone on strike. the only way to tell if they have done the complete work of fermentation is to take a gravity reading. the only way. using time or bubble activity will work 9 times out of 10. then it wont. get a hydrometer. they are cheap and effective. Do NOT add oxygen once fermentation has commenced. yeast make beer and they need oxygen to do the work. yeast being opportunistic will stop making beer and go back to sucking up oxygen if given the chance. so... do NOT aerate your wort after initial fermentation has begun. that means be careful when transferring beer. be gentle. be clean always. sanitation is key. oh, there is more. not a whole lot but important stuff. this is good for now grasshopper. your homebrew is yours and yours alone. if you make it the with good practices, the yeast and ingredients will reward you tenfold. Cheers. ps- the Brooklyn kits leave alot to be desired. but with some time and effort you can indeed make good beer.
Thanks so much everyone! You guys are the best! And u agree about the BBS kit. But hell it have me the bug. I've done 2 BBS kits now. And I'm going to use that as a base and keep trying to make better beer from here on out. A new home brew shop just opened up somewhat near me so I plan on purchasing my own grains hops and yeast after these two batches are done cookin
Best advice I can give is to buy and read, and re-read, and reference on brew day, is 'How to Brew' by John Palmer. It will answer nearly any and every question you may have about the brewing process.
All good advice...I'll add it is almost always best to leave the beer on the cake (yeast) for whatever you think + 1 week Cheers and welcome.
