Sitting here on my lunch break at work reading past posts and learning a lot!
Just one question though.
If my gravity sticks at 1010 can I still bottle it. I'm a bit unclear what effects this has on beer?
High gravity could explode bottles? or is it the amount of sugar used in priming?
Gravity effects the alcohol level, and I understand the formula.
Just not too sure..........I always thought a gravity of 1012 was too high to bottle but some ales are higher.
Thanks
Chris
Can I just check something about gravity?
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booldawg
It depends on what you're brewing as to what gravity it ends at. eg a stout with more body will ideally end at a higher gravity than a pale ale.
If you're kit brewing then the manufacturers ideal end gravity will be in the instructions (in most cases)
You'll need to check if fermentation has stopped. The 2 main ways are to see if you're getting the same hydrometer reading in a 24 hour period. Also check the surface in the FV - you're looking out for bubbles rising to the top, when fermentation is coming to a end the bubbles will be few and far between. Ideally you're looking for no bubbles at all.
Sometimes brews do stop slighty short of their end gravity, the main point is establishing if it has really stopped!
The rough guide for priming bottles (500ml) is half teaspoon for ales or one teaspoon for lagers, which are generally more carbonated. Putting too much sugar will over carbonate and could cause you problems with exploding bottles.
The problem is that a by product of fermentation is carbon dioxide, if this is happening in an airtight vessel like a bottle with firmly shut lid or cap then the CO2 has no-where to go and will create pressure -too much and bang!
Over carbonation is easier to spot in a plastic bottle as you will not be able to squeeze the sides of the bottle - it'll be rock hard. Its less obvious in glass bottles so is a wise idea to bottle your beer in a plastic bottle the same size as the glass ones and prime using exactly the same amount of sugar. It helps me sleep better at night to give the old plastic bottle a squeeze before bed
If you're kit brewing then the manufacturers ideal end gravity will be in the instructions (in most cases)
You'll need to check if fermentation has stopped. The 2 main ways are to see if you're getting the same hydrometer reading in a 24 hour period. Also check the surface in the FV - you're looking out for bubbles rising to the top, when fermentation is coming to a end the bubbles will be few and far between. Ideally you're looking for no bubbles at all.
Sometimes brews do stop slighty short of their end gravity, the main point is establishing if it has really stopped!
The rough guide for priming bottles (500ml) is half teaspoon for ales or one teaspoon for lagers, which are generally more carbonated. Putting too much sugar will over carbonate and could cause you problems with exploding bottles.
The problem is that a by product of fermentation is carbon dioxide, if this is happening in an airtight vessel like a bottle with firmly shut lid or cap then the CO2 has no-where to go and will create pressure -too much and bang!
Over carbonation is easier to spot in a plastic bottle as you will not be able to squeeze the sides of the bottle - it'll be rock hard. Its less obvious in glass bottles so is a wise idea to bottle your beer in a plastic bottle the same size as the glass ones and prime using exactly the same amount of sugar. It helps me sleep better at night to give the old plastic bottle a squeeze before bed
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ChrisG
Its still my first kit Brewmaker Scottish Heavy. Added beer enhancer instead of sugar.DaaB wrote:The final gravity is determined by the original gravity and the recipe. What kit did you make and what did you add to it if anything?
viewtopic.php?t=10979
It should go down to 1006
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carpet
If you're putting the brew in a pressure keg, it doesn't matter. If you're bottling, there's a danger that the fermentation will restart and burst the bottles (highly dangerous!).carpet wrote:How important is it to reach the guideline FG?
If it has stopped fermenting will you just end with a slightly weaker (and maybe sweeter) brew?