Gonna jump the gun a bit

[FedoraDave]

But not really. The beer is ready, after all. Besides, I need to budget my time.

Here's the sitch:

I brewed a batch of FedoraDave's American Ale on the third. Ordinarily, I would bottle it this coming Saturday and brew another fiver on Sunday.

However, time is at a premium this weekend. I have to work Saturday, and I don't know how big a workload I'm going to have. I may have to work into the early afternoon. I also have to go to the LHBS to pick up the ingredients for brewing the 2Daves Irish Red on Sunday. And SWMBO and I have an event in Connecticut on Saturday evening. I don't want to chance not having the time to bottle on Saturday. And I really don't want to bottle a fiver on Sunday morning and then turn around and do a full-volume AG mash. Those brew days are long enough without bottling, thanks.

I also can't bottle this Thursday, as I have a meeting at the office that evening, and Friday night is bowling league night. So that leaves Wednesday.

But, as I stated, the beer is ready. I checked the SG, and it's actually lower than the projected FG. I dry hopped another 1/2 oz. of Simcoe this evening, which will give it a bit more aroma, and I tasted the sample. Primo batch o' beer, kids! So it'll be 17 days instead of 20. It's all good. And after all, good beer is what it's all about, no?

[Inkleg]

Could you bottle during the mash and boil? Don't know your set up, but it works for me sometimes.

And your right, it's ALL good.

[FedoraDave]

I'd prefer not to. I kind of like to concentrate on one thing at a time.

Trust me, the beer is ready, and it's good.

[FrozenInTime]

Well, if your hydrometer says it's at final gravity, or there about, go for it. 3 weeks is what we the borg came up with, there is still a school of thought that 2 weeks is more than enough. So ya got my vote, go for it bro!

[mashani]

I've bottled the last 8 or so batches all at 2 weeks or so. They have all been done from a FG standpoint and also "cleaned up" tasting out of the fermenter at that point. Although I'm now missing my hydrometer... need to go to store and get new one.

[FedoraDave]

I racked to a secondary last Saturday, and I believe the SG was a touch higher than yesterday. I can't see it going too much lower at this point, anyway, and the beer is clear and delicious. This is the batch that blew the bung off twice the day after I pitched the yeast. When I racked to the secondary, I washed the yeast and pinned a medal on it!

[packerduf]

I'm with you, Dave. My last AG batch took 6 hours to complete, start to finish. Trying to bottle before, during, or after would have countered the relaxation aspect of my brew day. Besides, I needed to finish my clean-up in time to see the Packers lose to the Giants.

[Yankeedag]

if the Hydro says it's ready, then it's ready. The fermentation time line, as we all recall, was for going without the hydrometer. I've had brews done in 7 days. I'm bottling today and it's just been fermenting 10 days. it hit FG. So, the bottles have been sanitized (again. I wash and sanitize as I go, then do it again just before bottling). Now I'm just waiting for them to dry a wee bit before getting after it.

[FedoraDave]

I'm with you, Dave. My last AG batch took 6 hours to complete, start to finish. Trying to bottle before, during, or after would have countered the relaxation aspect of my brew day. Besides, I needed to finish my clean-up in time to see the Packers lose to the Giants.

Yeah, sorry about that, Larry. NOT! Of course, the Pack was going with, what? a 14th-string QB? Or was it the tuba player from the marching band? A parking lot attendant?

I'm actually quite a bit more concerned about this weekend's game. Dallas must be beaten!

[packerduf]

I'm with you, Dave. My last AG batch took 6 hours to complete, start to finish. Trying to bottle before, during, or after would have countered the relaxation aspect of my brew day. Besides, I needed to finish my clean-up in time to see the Packers lose to the Giants.

Yeah, sorry about that, Larry. NOT! Of course, the Pack was going with, what? a 14th-string QB? Or was it the tuba player from the marching band? A parking lot attendant?

I'm actually quite a bit more concerned about this weekend's game. Dallas must be beaten!

They went with the tuba player vs. the Giants. Since he did so well, and only threw 3 interceptions, the parking lot attendant will remain the backup - for now.