When to drink

[silkyuk9]

ive just barrelled my home brew, its now in the shed outside (scared it will explode in airing cupboard). usually i wait for around 2 months before i try it. But what is a recommended time to try home brew.

also i havent used any of my co2 bulbs yet do i just wait until the pressure has run out until i activate one or should i put one in, in a month or 2 before ive tried the beer.

[anomalous_result]

It depends on the type of beer and abv, but I try to wait a minimum of 4 weeks. This is usually ideal as I try to limit my drinking to the weekend so I try to time it so I bottle on a Friday and have it to drink on a Friday 4 weeks hence. I did find with a stout kit that it was markedly better after 2 months though (just as I was reaching the end of it).

[J_P]

The rule of thumb is one weeks maturing per 10 original gravity points eg a 1040 beer will need 4 weeks maturation. Saying that my first kit got drank at the three weeks point They do get better the longer you leave them, I found that a Great Eastern Kit reached its peak around 6 weeks after bottling.

Another school of thought would be to sample a half each week and that way you can taste how the beer matures over time

[anomalous_result]

sample a half each week

A luxury you're afforded if you're using a barrel, I was on 2L PETs so knew the bottle wasn't going to get any better once I'd opened it!

[J_P]

sample a half each week

A luxury you're afforded if you're using a barrel, I was on 2L PETs so knew the bottle wasn't going to get any better once I'd opened it!

It does give you an excuse to drink three and a half pints at a go though!

[anomalous_result]

sample a half each week

A luxury you're afforded if you're using a barrel, I was on 2L PETs so knew the bottle wasn't going to get any better once I'd opened it!

It does give you an excuse to drink three and a half pints at a go though!

[EYE JAY]

I normally wait 4 weeks for a cider kit and 3 weeks for a beer kit,using finings in both because of the warm weather and problems with clearing.

I know beer will improve with time but i dont have the will to wait that long

[J_P]

The obvious solution is to get another fermenter and double up your brews that way you can have one now and leave one to mature - results all round!

[nicktherockstar]

agreed, i would say if you can wait 2 months you will have the best suprise when you first try a brew, I found up to four-six weeks its homebrew.. then almost from nowhere it goes really good and is many cases taste shop brought or better

[MickyD]

My Admirals Reserve is about 5 weeks bottled now, and is a million miles from when I first bottled it. It is getting smoother and easier to drink.....not that I struggled in the first place you understand

I think when I bottle the Smugglers I will try to leave that for at least 5 weeks before hitting it.