How long to carbonate in bottles...

[DMBmelch]

I just put my first batch into bottles last Saturday. So tomorrow is about the one week mark. I tried it on day 4 and it was pretty much still flat. I'm a little worried about that. I did everything by the book with the 3/4 cup priming sugar with the 2 cups water and all that jazz.

So the question is...how long should the beer really be left in bottles before it should be carbonated and ready to drink. It fermented 1 week in both primary and secondary.

[justin27]

two to three weeks. Condition at room temp. Some people use 1 cup of DME vs corn sugur.

Good Luck

[HogieWan]

the fermentation of the priming sugar is done is just a few days, but it takes another week or so for the co2 in make its way into solution. If you put one in the fridge for a couple days, you may find the carbontion much better now. The co2 gets into solution more easily under cooler temps.

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by HogieWan
the fermentation of the priming sugar is done is just a few days, but it takes another week or so for the co2 in make its way into solution. If you put one in the fridge for a couple days, you may find the carbontion much better now. The co2 gets into solution more easily under cooler temps.

I'm gonna try this with my last bottle, which is only about 3/4 full. I bottled them 1 week ago. I put it in the fridge this morning (Sunday), and will try it tomorrow night. I'm not expecting this one to taste great anyway, due to all the oxygen in the bottle, so what the heck.

[wortchillergoal]

I find that mine are usally carbonated before two weeks but longer than one week. The taste will not be at it's best for at least two weeks though and a week or two more allows it to mature. The tough part of homebrewing is the wait.

[Trogger]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
The tough part of homebrewing is the wait.

Agreed. I'm on batch number 20 and still have issues with the waiting game. Especially once it makes it to the bottles.
2 weeks minumum at room temp, is my rule.
*My latest brown ale is taunting me. Sitting there, on the floor of the dining room. Only 9 days in the bottle, Must wait until next weekend...must...resist...*

[gone_fishing]

The dining room, Trogger?? Are you married? I'd get killed twice if I suggested the dining room as a maturing room! I have fight enough about the corners of the kitchen! :)

[chris2626]

I just had a few of my home brews lastnight and it was pretty good but I think another week it will be better. I hope it will have more carbonation in a week. Today makes 9 days they have been in the bottle.

[markaberrant]

In my limited experience (3 finished batches, started the 4th on Friday), the 1-2-3 rule works best:

1 week primary
2 weeks secondary
3 weeks bottle condition

Sure the beer is fully carbonated after 2 weeks conditioning, but mine have always needed another week to mature before they taste great.

However, impatience always gets the best of me, and I have to sample ahead of schedule.

[MikShau]

I used to condition my bottles in the back hallway, but found that every trip to the bathroom ( which happens quite often as a beer drinker), resulted in me picking one up and examining it. This made the temptaion to open one up, unbearable.

I now put them in a cabinet, under the sink, in my office, with a couple of brief cases stacked against the door. Out of sight, out of mind. Much easier to get two, or even three, weeks before sticking some in the fridge. I've even been able to have stock from two different batches before drinking them all up.

BTW, the last bottle always seems the best.

[DecoJuicer]

I posted on another thread recently that my wife wants me to build a cabinet specifically for beer and beer stuff. I drew up some rudementary plans, and went to Home Depot to price it out. Looks like it is going to cost me about $120. I will be able to store 5 6.5 gallon carboys and 3 cases of bottles. It will have doors on it to keep out light. Hopefully this will also serve to keep me from wanting to look at it everyday and obsess over it.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by DecoJuicer
Hopefully this will also serve to keep me from wanting to look at it everyday and obsess over it.

sorry - that won't work