How long will it keep?

[Moondoggy]

Just finished brewing and bottling my first batch. It is Brewers Best English Brown Ale. How long will it keep in my cellar in the dark at approx. 60 degrees year round?

[YamahaXS]

what was your OG and FG?

higher alchol beers keep a long time. if less than 5% then i wouldn't keep it around for longer than a year.

[Moondoggy]

The OG was 1.042 and the FG was 1.011

[YamahaXS]

So you are looking at about a 4.0% to 4.5% abv. My opinion is that you should definitely drink it within the year. Probably within 6 months. You could save a few for properity sake, but otherwise, drink it and brew more! :)

oh, and CONGRATS you're now a homebrewer!

[Moondoggy]

I think I can drink it in 6 months or less! Thanks again.

[KMalt]

My very first homebrew was also BB's English brown ale. It only lasted about 2 months but I noticed that it mellowed out after only a couple of weeks in the bottle. That probably isn't a good trait for a brew that begins fairly mellow anyway. The older it got the less flavor (particularly the malt) I noticed.

Good luck!

[Bruno_78]

I also just finished brewing their english brown. Bottled it on new years eve, first tasted on January 5th, and it definately wasn't mellow. In fact, it was such a bold taste that I thought I had done something wrong. Going for another taste tonight and we'll see what happens.

[Bruno_78]

Just tried it again, much better this week, not so "in your face". Also got the girlfriends approval. I didn't tell her it was my beer until after she tasted it. Not the best beer in the world, but I'm happy with my first attempt.

[noby]

in hindsight, the first batch is never the greatest, but it's a good feeling to sit back and drink it, knowing you made it!

[Stodbrew]

If you can drink, and be happy with your first batch, that's a great thing because it's only going to get better from there. Congrats Moondoggy and Bruno!

[mmmBeer...]

Congrats on your first batches!

I for one have never had the opportunity to see how long my beer will last. I am very lucky if a batch lasts me 1.5 months…actually more like a month.

I made a batch for a friends wedding, and got to taste some of the leftovers that were about 5 months old and still good!

[Moondoggy]

Do I need to be hard and fast on waiting 14 days for bottle conditioning prior to sampling? Better yet, with sugar priming approx. how many days before the beer is conditioned/carbonated enough for a palatable beverage?

[mmmBeer...]

I have found that my bottles were fully carbonated in about 10 days. They were drinkable at 7. 14 days makes sure you have them fully carbonated.

You can sample anytime you want…you just may not be sampling the final product. Obviously there will be some residual sweetness if the yeast isn’t finished and the mouth feel will be different from the lack of carbonation. But at least you will know what your beer will taste like.

I usually crack one open at about 7 days for a taste (I just can’t wait)

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by Moondoggy
Do I need to be hard and fast on waiting 14 days for bottle conditioning prior to sampling? Better yet, with sugar priming approx. how many days before the beer is conditioned/carbonated enough for a palatable beverage?

hell no! drinking beer as it developes and ages is a great way to gain insight into beer making. Just don't go drink all of it right away.

btw, I usually say this but didn't before, so I will now....

START YOUR NEXT BATCH NOW!!!!

[Moondoggy]

Tonight I will cool one down and try it! This Saturday will be 14 days of conditioning on my first batch.

That's correct, first batch. I boiled another the batch exactly one week after my very first boil before my first boil completed fermentation.

Currently, I have 10 gallons of beer conditioning and I have my wife convinced that I need to brew a batch of Stout!

I am considering the B3 stout from Beer, Beer and more Beer.

The guys their were cool to me when I ordered some equipage from them and I think I'll patronize them.

Unfortunately, my local brew shop is not that local forcing e-retail. Although, Bell's brewery in Kzoo, MI does have a nice brew shop!

[Moondoggy]

I just sampled my first batch. Now I know why beer does not last you guys long. Home brew is top notch! thanks for the help all!

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Moondoggy
I just sampled my first batch. Now I know why beer does not last you guys long. Home brew is top notch! thanks for the help all!

Yeah - you know you're hooked now, dontcha?

[Moondoggy]

This is great. I'm half in the bag on my own brew!!!!

[mmmBeer...]

See now this is why we try to brew as much as we can! 40 pints don't last very long if you like beer...and it is even shorter when your spouse loves it as well.

Put it this way...if both of us have 2 pints a day I only have enough beer from one batch to last 10 days! And this doesn't include guests and friends.

If I don't put down a batch every 2 weeks I run out of beer...and that sucks. I had to break down and buy beer today as my dad visited and cleaned me out of 2 kegs over the holidays. I bought a 24 and it cost me as much as a batch of homebrew…now that pisses me off! And I make better beer :)