How long do you keep bottles in the warm?

[jmc]

Hi

How long do you keep bottles in the warm?

This post got me thinking
Its from Dennis King in the Microbrewing v Homebrewing topic

I ferment for a week then transfer to a polypin, leave for 2-3 weeks in which time there is a slight gas build up so I tend to vent 2-3 times in that period. Then prime, move somewhere warmer for around 2 days, move back to garage to settle for 24 for hours before drinking. After many years of experimenting with different approaches found this works for me.

I have to do all my brewing in my garage which is cold (most of the time), so space in the warm brewing fridge or cupboard is at a premium.
Sometimes I delay a brew because bottles are still in the warm brewing fridge to get a bit of fizz.

I'd like to minimise the time I have to keep the bottles in the warm, so I can use the space for more important thinks like the next brew

I'd appreciate your feedback on what you do, time and (if controllable) temp to condition the bottled beer?

BTW: I suppose kegged beer would need the same time too?

TIA John

[greenxpaddy]

I don't think at this stage its quite so critical. You have ensured you have added minum oxygen while bottling so the yeasties will not be doing any aerobic activity. All it will mean I think is they will be carbonating at a slower rate. If they are going to be sat on the shelf for at least 6 weeks garage temperatures at this time of year should be ok. they will still work an all that sugar eventually....I'd insulate them with a duvet to help regulate overnight temperatures - or I use a thermo controlled electric heater just to keep it from getting too cold.

I'm sure a purist would say differently but I can't see there would be much flavour note difference from this. Most of the flavour comes from the aerobic multiplying phase

[Dennis King]

My post was about polypins not bottles. One advantage with polypins is you can see them expand so you know when iys ready to move back to the colder area. !-3 days is the norm but bottles will be different, I rarely bottle so not able to help much.

[jmc]

Thanks for your replies

My post was about polypins not bottles. One advantage with polypins is you can see them expand so you know when iys ready to move back to the colder area. !-3 days is the norm but bottles will be different, I rarely bottle so not able to help much.

Sorry Dennis, if I didn't explain myself well. I was thinking about this part of your original post:

Then prime, move somewhere warmer for around 2 days, move back to garage to settle for 24 for hours before drinking

I take your point that polypins are not designed to take a lot of pressure and so will have a different level of carbonation compared to that in bottled-beer.
Its also clearly also a lot easier to see what's going on with a polypin. In a similar vein, I know some people include at least one PET /plastic bottle so that they can feel when beer has carbnonated

I'd still be interested to hear how long people leave bottles in the warm to get carbonated.

TIA John

[nobby]

John

I tend to leave mine 7 days in the back bedroom. I use plastic bottle so I can check to see if they are pressurising up.