Kit fermentation times - are they just 'aving a larf?

[cellone]

[Georgy]

I thought if you left a brew in first fermentation too long the beer will taste metallic and off?

[orlando]

I thought if you left a brew in first fermentation too long the beer will taste metallic and off?

I think you are referring to autolysis, which is when the yeast die and then in effect produce off flavours due to decay. However, they are not metallic flavours they are described as being more "meaty". The latest thinking though is that autolysis in home brew is very unlikely as the beer needs to be on the yeast for months before that happens.

[rootsbrew]

On the one hand, the instructions are generally rubbish, so it's best to look at what's actually happening. On the other, I wonder if there's a difference between kits? One can kits do generally seem to be all done in a week but two can kits seem to take a lot longer.

Just an idea - perhaps the two can kits contain some starch, which isn't all converted into simple sugars in the prescribed 4 - 6 days that the fermentation is supposed to take; however, as soon as it is converted, the yeast can then use it? Based on comments above, this secondary part can take up to two weeks, on top of the time taken for the pre-existing simple sugars to ferment.
... just a thought.