Shortest time to drinkability?

[Carl Spakler]

I have my IPA festering in the bottles, we cracked one last weekend, and while the carbonation is good I think it needs another couple weeks to come into the full flavor, that said I'm ready to do another couple batches for the summer. I'm between a American Wheat ( I'd like to clone the Leinenkugel (sp?) Sunset Wheat) and a Hefeweizen (similar to the Sweaty Betty from Boulder), and will likely make them both, I am wondering which will be ready to drink sooner, or is the difference minimal?

Outside of those two, what else is a summer-y type beer with a short brew --> drink timeline?

TIA!

I bottle carbonate, so that adds some time to process that kegging and forced carbonation removes. Someday...

[barleyburps]

I like to give my bottles about 4 weeks to carbonate/mature, although I may taste one after 2-3 weeks out of curiosity.

I like to give my kegs a few weeks also to mature, even though they'll be force carbonated in a couple of days.

Not that it's a summer beer, but I remember an episode of the Thirsty Traveler where an irish stout brewer said "grain to glass in two weeks." I personally think that's a bit young.

[markaberrant]

Any wheat beer would have the quickest turnaround. They are cloudy by nature, which helps. And keep it around 5% abv or less.

I brewed up a belgian wheat beer on June 2nd that I plan on serving at a reunion on June 30th.

I would say the key is to bottle as soon as fermentation is complete. And as soon as you have full carbonation, stick them somewhere cold.

[Carl Spakler]

I thought I had read about wheat being quick from brew to drink but can't find the reference, thanks for the info. Time to get shopping. :)

[Mad Scientist]

I think any light colored ale, espicially htose not highly opped wil mature quick....so a blonde or a golden might be in your future.....

[Carl Spakler]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
I think any light colored ale, espicially htose not highly opped wil mature quick....so a blonde or a golden might be in your future.....

Oh, what a dismal future I have to look forward to, eh? :D

[gallowd7]

I can pull off a 3.5-4% mild in about 10 days max. That's to a keg though. Full of flavor but won't bog you down.

[HogieWan]

anything in that 3.5-4% range will mature quickly (and go down quickly as well)