how long in bottle?

[cbtrtbum]

Good evening everyone,
i have read that the 1,2,3 method is the way to go. Im on my 5th batch, and most of them recommend that i try a bottle 7-10 days from bottling? I know it depends on what style of beer youre talking about, but in general, how long do you all wait before you pop one in the fridge, to look forward to after work? Thanks,Chris

[wild]

3 weeks. I have cheated in the past with regret and now wait for the beer to be ready plus I try to have enough on hand to tie me over until they are ready.

Wild

[Mad Scientist]

You can try one after 7-10 days, and it will usually be carbonated at that time....but the beer will generally taste pretty green. In my experience it takes three weeks or longer for a beer to properly mature.
That being said, I fill two full cases of 12 oz bottles and two grolsh bottles that are 'tasters' so I can monitor the beer's bottle aging process at 7 and 14 days.

[markaberrant]

The more I brew, the longer I wait. I'm up to a minimum of 4 weeks, though I may sample a single bottle at 3 weeks to ensure carbonation is ok.

[corkybstewart]

When I bottled, I tasted the first bottle after a week. It let me know how the carbonation and maturation were progressing. Depending on how the first bottle tasted I might wait a week or two before trying the next one. Now that I keg everything I draw my first glass 4 or 5 days after I hook it to CO2, pretty much for the same reason, although most of my kegs have been sitting around for a couple of months already so they are matured.

[Chubber]

I will wait 1 to 2 weeks if the beer is being stored at room temps, usually ales. Once I bottle a lager, it usually goes 3-4 weeks in the fridge before drinking. It takes at least 2 weeks to carbonate at those temps.

[KaiBueno]

I try to hold out to at least 2 weeks minimum, though I admit it is tough. The more I brew, the more eager I am to try it afterwards, though I am learning to be patient so that when I do get to drinking it, the brew will be finished, rather than a bit green...

The recent Pumpkin Ale I brewed might still be changing. Seemed done at 3 wks (compared to what I tried at 1-2 weeks), but then was slightly different half a week later. Maybe I'll wait 4 next time...

:cool:

[darylM]

it really depends on the beer.

I did a batch of hefewiesen and it smelled and tasted good out of the primary! My first attempt of Octoberfest seems to have come into its own after 3-5 weeks warm conditioning and 3 weeks cold conditioning. I have one bottle left and I wish I had waited longer. I can smell the aroma a foot or two away from the bottle! My second attempt I tasted at one week after bottling and decided to give it another 2 weeks and it was much better. I will be drinking that batch but slowly to allow it to get better overtime.

[dparsons]

I go with a few tester bottles as well. Its usually about 2 weeks before I test the first one. Like everyone else has said, they really aren't ready until 3-4 weeks have passed. Or longer for bigger beers.

[cbtrtbum]

i appreciate it guys. I am going to be more patient with waiting. I think the 1,2,3 method is where its at. At least 3 weeks in the bottle. Peace,Chris

[larin1477]

Im terrible...my 1st batch back as a homebrewer didnt even last two weeks...(does that make me an alcoholic?..lol) now that I have a few batches under my belt I do taste one after 7 -10 days but mostly follow the 1-2-3 as well..makes for better tasting beer in my book!

Here we go again...SOX YANKS ROUND 1

[cavers]

My first batch of homebrew's been in the bottle for a week now, and I'm moving across the country in another week. I might put a few bottles into boxes and ship them, if I can pad them well enough, but, honestly, I'll probably drink most of them in the next week (only half the batch is mine, so it's not so reprehensible as it sounds). It was probably bad timing to start a batch with only a month before moving back to BC - but I couldn't wait to start homebrewing, and I'll start another batch as soon as I get settled.

Just wanted to make you feel better in case your willpower fails and you accidentally drink some of your beer!

[dparsons]

Originally posted by larin1477
Im terrible...my 1st batch back as a homebrewer didnt even last two weeks...(does that make me an alcoholic?..lol) now that I have a few batches under my belt I do taste one after 7 -10 days but mostly follow the 1-2-3 as well..makes for better tasting beer in my book!


Its a whole lot easier to wait if you have a full beer fridge with several choices available.