Advocating Leaving It Alone

[PMH0810]

I bottled my Telford's Export Ale so that it would have had 4 weeks in 1ltr PET bottles at 24/12/07 - seemed like a plan to me.

Opened the first couple of bottles shortly after Christmas and, although it was a cracking pint and I was really pleased, it wasn't quite there and had a slightly too bitter aftertaste.

Had another couple of ltrs last night (17/01/2008) and what a difference another three weeks make. Good, thirst quenching ale with no afterhit of bitterness but still full of flavour.

Moral? Don't rush at it, it really is better left alone for a while. All it means is I have to make more kits to keep a rolling supply going to keep me going whilst waiting for the next one!

[booldawg]

I had about 3 bottles left of my first brew and wish I'd let them all have a full 8 weeks. Once you have a rolling stock its a bit easier to resist!

[PMH0810]

Another thought - 1ltr clear PET bottles; is there a "best before" duration I should know about/ If so, I'll just have to force it all down before then...

[PMH0810]

Oh it won't be around three months after bottling - not tasting as it does! Thanks for the info!

[Martin the fish]

Tell Vossy...I believe he starts sampling before fermentation is even over

Your not supposed to do that?

[Martin the fish]

I advocate leaving it alone.

At least till it's cleared and in a bottle. You need to taste a few along the way so you know what happens kinda thing.

My IPA tasted v sweet on wk 2 fab on wk 3 and a bit bland on wk4. Unfortunately none made it to wk5.

Can't really remember the rest of my brews

Cider is good to go from kit if you let it ferment out well in about 14 days bottled. It doesn't really improve that much. Besides-it's cider.

Actually i'm drinking muntons nut brown ale now and it's wk3. Loads nicer than wk2(same as newky brown-people commented) when it was watery and... like newky brown. Now it has a nice rich nutty background flavour and a kinda chewy mouthfeel rather than a watery one. Acceptable at wk2 but much much better at wk3. Not gonna make it to wk4 cos it behaved too well in wk3

[Grantie]

I think a rolling stock is the best solution, I am fighting the urge to open mine - the sooner I can get another batch brewed and bottled the better !!

It's quite an experience though to taste the change week by week - I didnt expect it to mature so well !

[p2ll]

Agree with building stock. I normally rely on lager needing four weeks before its really palatable. Problem is my latest batch has matured in two so there's nothing stopping me from drinking it.

Not sure why this has conditioned so quick. It was my second batch of Muntons Gold Continental Pilsener - an all malt. It was sweet in week one, but week two completely cleared and the hops had come through/sweetness gone. This week pretty much the same - a very nice pint.

Could it be the changes in temperature - its stored in the shed and its been cold then warm then cold?

[PMH0810]

Have read a bit about the Munton's Gold Continental Lager and am personally waiting for Cooper's Bavarian Pilsner to condition (roll on Feb 6th). Never having actually tried either before can anyone offer comparison's?

[p2ll]

I found the Coppers a bit bland - though I did use sugar. More like an ordinary lager than pilsner. The Muntons is much closer to Pilsner - with a good balance of hops. Its much more expensive though and is all malt (nearly twice the price I think).

Phill