Conditioning in bottles.

[jimthecat]

I am doing my very first beer kit (Admirals Reserve) and am conditioning in bottles. My beer has been in the bottles for about a week now.

What is the best temp to keep the bottles in and how long should I wait before I crack my first brew?

The instructions say four to five weeks but some people I have spoke to have said I don't have to wait that long.

I am trying to be patient.

Honest.

[Fuse]

generaly the longer its left the better it will taste. Nothing to stop you opening one now (providing its relatively clear, which i would imagint it will be), purely for purposes of checking it obviously the longest ive managed before opening one is 3 weeks and that was hard.

[Jim]

Generally 4 weeks is OK for normal strength ales, but it will continue to improve for a year or more (depending on how well you sanitised and how strong/hoppy a brew it is).

The best conditioning temperature (once it's had a week in the warm -18 to 20C- for secondary fermentation) is the same as the serving temperature - 10 to 14C.

[jimthecat]

Thank you.