Bottle Conditioning Question

[Chicken Dipper]

Another numpty question!

Up until know I have always primed my bottles with either extract or various sugars. My last AG effort went in without priming sugar as GW in BYOBRA stated that it wasn't necessary to prime.

My questions are, A) how long does it usually take to condition under general circumstances? I appreciate that due to the cooler temerature outside it will take longer at this time of year.

And B), the beer is in my shed and it's obviously cool out there, should I have given it a week inside first to get it going, and should I bring it in prior to sampling just to make sure?

Thanks CD

[Madbrewer]

If you want to be drinking it quickly you could probably have speeded things up by conditioning for two weeks at room temperature. How quick and how much condition come down to how much sugar's left in the brew for the remaining yeast to munch on and even how much yeast there is. Generally 4 weeks conditioning time 'in house' is ytpical to condition a beer so maybe 6 weeks in the garage/shed at a guess. Sample 1 nottle after 6 weeks bring the whole lot in for a week if you want to ... hope this helps?

[Chicken Dipper]

Thanks very much mate, will stand by until week 6!

[HighHops]

Hi CD

My last AG effort went in without priming sugar as GW in BYOBRA stated that it wasn't necessary to prime.

My questions are, A) how long does it usually take to condition under general circumstances? I appreciate that due to the cooler temerature outside it will take longer at this time of year.

You're right it does say that in GWs book, but not sure why! I think he's talking about long storage, whereas mine are nicely carbonated after a couple of weeks so I can start drinking them to see how they change over time. I think with no priming sugar and left in your shed it will still be flat as a witches tit at Christmas! Some fellow brewers on JBK try to bottle just before fermentation is complete to avoid priming (see trucker's threads) but I always prime with 80g of white sugar or brewing sugar (dextrose) for a 23L brew. There's no noticable difference between spraymalt and sugar for priming IMO.

And B), the beer is in my shed and it's obviously cool out there, should I have given it a week inside first to get it going, and should I bring it in prior to sampling just to make sure?

Leave it in the house at 17-21C for 1-2 wks then somewhere cooler until they are all gone. You can bring it in just prior to sampling if you want or just sit in your shed and drink it. It's up to you!

HH

[Manx Guy]

Leave it in the house at 17-21C for 1-2 wks then somewhere cooler until they are all gone. You can bring it in just prior to sampling if you want or just sit in your shed and drink it. It's up to you!

When I tried this my wife didn't see the funny side... She was convinced I had a drink problem for several weeks afterwards...

@CD all good advice there... I usually give my bottled brews 10-14 days in the warm (or until they start to clear if its earlier/later) then another few weeks somewhere abit cooler (the former Coal house/cellar - where its 2-10C and 12-14C respectively this time of year)

My AG#2 - GW's WW White Shield clone is conditioning in the spare room at present before it goes out to the coal house! (or 'coiloil')


Hope that helps...

Guy

[vacant]

When I tried this my wife didn't see the funny side... She was convinced I had a drink problem for several weeks afterwards...

Or, your drinking could have a wife problem.

[Manx Guy]

When I tried this my wife didn't see the funny side... She was convinced I had a drink problem for several weeks afterwards...

Or, your drinking could have a wife problem.

Haha

Nah she's just concerned... I did addmit that drinking in coal house is a little odd...

She doesn't have a problem with me sitting out on the deck reading and enjoying a few bottles of HB (in summer) until it goes dark -or when I invite several mates round to sit in the garden to help me with some homebrew 'quality control'. No problem at all infact she gets the BBQ out and feeds us all


Although she then has the cheek to complain that they don't seem to keen to leave...

Then why would they?

Guy

[Chicken Dipper]

Thanks all

Wish there was room in the shed to hide! kids ride on's seem to be taking over!

CD