15 days in FV - can't bottle till Saturday

[Jerry Cornelius]

As the title says - my last brew has been fifteen days in the FV. I don't have time to bottle until Saturday, which'll be 19 days total. Should I rack into a bottling bucket tomorrow and bottle Saturday, or not worry and just carry on as normal Saturday?

If I do rack into a bottling bucket tomorrow (Wednesday), should I add priming sugar then, or wait and do it Saturday?

Don't want to ruin it now...

[Mogwyth]

Tough call, I think if it where me and it's all closed up in the FV I would leave well alone until the weekend. Others might have a more learned answer.

Cheers

Bill

[Parva]

I tend to leave mine upto around a fortnight but I have heard of brews being left in the FV for a month and being fine. I'd say you'll likely be ok. You can rack it to the bottling bucket if you want, this will have the advantage of taking it off dead yeast and help guard against autolysis BUT you run the risk of oxidation if you're not very careful. There's no point adding priming sugar before you're ready to bottle because you'll just end up with flat beer. On balance, I personally would leave it in the FV then transfer to bottling bucket on Saturday with your sugar addition and bottle it.

[lollypopp]

My last brew was in the FV for 17 days, same reason, no time to do it, but kept the lid on, so as to keep the C02 over the top of it, was fine, it's now conditioning nicely!

[KevP]

It will be perfectly fine!!

[Jerry Cornelius]

Thanks for putting my mind at rest chaps

[Jerry Cornelius]

Bl**dy work unfortunately . Things have gone manic for a few days. Still better busy than bored, I suppose.

[mat69]

i'd take bored at home over busy at work anyday jerry...

[Jerry Cornelius]

Trouble is mat, that I can work at home. My work is done on computers, more's the pity, so it means I can bring the bl**dy stuff back with me!

[Jerry Cornelius]

Your mate is right Chris - my trouble is that I'm just so slow at bottling. I have no idea why I'm so useless, but the first time I bottled 40 pints it took me five hours!!

I have since managed to get it down to three. To be honest when I actually think about what needs doing, it should take about an hour and half, but I guess I just need more practice! And I make such a mess of the kitchen the wife just moans constantly, I'd rather do it when she's at work - i.e this weekend

[Jerry Cornelius]

Yes, I've got a Little bottler

This is the process:
1. Fill FV and some plastic crates with water - add bleach.
2. Scrub each bottle with brush
3. Dunk botttles into containers of bleach
4. Leave 20 minutes
5. Rinse each bottle three times, put into crates
6. Make up priming solution
7. When FV is empty, rinse out 3 times, pour in primer
8. Carry on rinsing
9. When all bottles rinsed, get FV into kitchen ready to rack
10. Rack into bottling bucket - take a quality control pint
11. Fill bottles - loosely place a cap on each
12. Finish capping and place into crates
13. Clean up
14. Move crates into warm
15. have more beer to aid recovery

[lollypopp]

Don't you need to rinse with star san? and where do you get it? that video made it look easy!

[Jerry Cornelius]

Thanks for the tips Chris - your video is good too. I watched the others as well, which were also excellent.

I must get some Star San...

[mat69]

its saturday jerry,and if it takes you 5hours to bottle you better get started now mate

[lollypopp]

Have you finished yet? jerry, if not, suggest you make sure you've got batteries in your torch? only joking mate, hope you have a good one!!!