Newbie Brewbee; Carbonation in Fermenter?

[Songster Brau]

Yup, I'm a "newbie". With indefinite isolation apparently the lifestyle non-choice flavor of the day, I decided to try my hand at brewing beer, and went with a cookie cutter kit to get started. Here's an outline of where I'm at with everything. Please feel free to chime in!

I used a Brew Demon kit, with American Ale 3.7 abv recipe, and followed all of the instructions implicitly. The instructions said to taste test the batch after 7 days.. I waited 9. It's possible that my batch was below the recommended temperature range of 64-74F, at about 63F. The batch has some floating particles, not too bad, although hard to determine through the amber colored acrylic. It has about 2 inches of trub in the bottom at the cone, and flaky looking billows of yellowish substance -which I assume to be kraeusen- taking up about 65% of area floating at the top. Upon testing, it tasted distinctly carbonated, and it actually tasted like really good American ale. That is where my concern about fermentation and bottling timing came in, because the Brew Demon instructions -which were very sparse in detail- said that if the batch tastes slightly sweet, more fermentation is needed, but if the batch tastes like flat beer, it should be good for bottling. To me, it tasted like neither, and that's why I came to the forum for more comprehensive insight. I haven't been able to nail down any information indicating that the batch may convey a carbonated taste straight from the fermenter, information which was also lacking in the Brew Demon instructions. At this point, I'll try to use a little common sense and instinct, and perhaps experiment with bottling timing and priming sugar amounts. So far, so good.. this is my very first attempt at brewing a batch of beer. Thanks all for any input.. stay safe out there.. there's a virus on the loose.

[mashani]

We replied to you in your original post below. The short version is "its not done yet" just walk away for a week and then bottle it.

[John Sand]

It's hard to wait for your first batch, I remember. But especially with bottling you want to be careful. If the batch isn't finished, or if you get the carbonation wrong, you could get gushers or even burst bottles. It's safer to wait two or three weeks. Certainly don't bottle until the beer clears. One way to help pass the time is to get another fermenter and brew another batch. With two fermenters you can generally brew one and bottle one every week. It's fun to have more than one style to drink. It's also enlightening to see how the beers matures. Hang in there, give it a little more time, keep us posted.

[Songster Brau]

Thanks John Sand.

[berryman]

As John said, yes it is very hard to wait for that first beer you brewed. A long time brewer and member here always said and don't know if the quote is right but close. It might not be the best beer you ever had, but the best because you brewed it yourself, and that is true. The waiting game is hard and 3 weeks in the fermenter seems like forever. Believe it or not if you continue on this hobby and learn more about it them times can be cut way down. but for now better being safe then having under aged beer that doesn't taste good and other problems like a bottle bomb. Keep up the good work and enjoy.