Should I bottle it, or not?

[javi]

Hi all. First post, first brew so I hope you can give me some advice. I put a Muntons Bock kit on about a week and a half ago and followed all instructions religiously, but overestimated the temperature in the room I was fermenting in. It was varying between 15C and about 21C with the heating, and I couldn't see any obvious activity in the airlock at all. I took a hydrometer reading a few days ago and was surprised to find it at 1014ish - the hydrometer I'm using has coloured bands and confirms that it's very close to the 'bottle' phase (this band starts at 1012 and finishes at 996). However, it hasn't moved from this mark for the last few days and I stupidly didn't measure the gravity when I put the brew on. I've got another kit which is Muntons IPA, and the instructions say a steady gravity reading of below 1014 means it's time to bottle up. My question is do you think the Bock is now fermented and I can bottle, or am I risking exploding bottles and grim-tasting beer? Thanks...

[Jim]

Hi Javi, and welcome to the forum.

If you have a look at this thread, you'll see that you've done pretty well to get down to 14. As long as the gravity's been stable for a few days you should be fine to bottle.

[javi]

Hi Jim - thanks for your reply and advice. That thread was quite an eye-opener; I had no idea that my situation was that common among kit brewers. I went ahead and bottled up without problems (bottle washers and bottling sticks must be amongst the most useful gadgets) so now the hardest bit - waiting!

Cheers,

Javi