Bottling too early

[jimmybobbird]

Hello All.

Just bottled some Coopers English Bitter after a week in the FV. The last two days had given a static hydrometer reading but whilst bottling I notied that I was getting a lot of head in the bottle. I assuem this means that the beer was still fermenting and therefore have bottled too early.

So my questions are a) what effect will this have on taste b) will my plastic bottles crack and if so c) what can I do about it and lastly d) how do I make sure this does nto happen again?

Is there a better way of finding out that fermentation has completed?

Cheers

Jim

[BeerEagle]

As a result of the fermentation, there will be some dissolved CO2 in the beer so Don't worry too much about foam in the bottles. As long as you get your three consecutive days of same FG, you'll be fine.

[orlando]

You don't mention your bottling method and what you use for it so I may not be giving you useful advice so forgive me. It sounds like you maybe getting too much oxygenation during filling. If you don't already use one a bottling stick (wand) is a really handy device for transfering beer to bottle by keeping the beer from picking up air along the way. Even if you don't have one try to keep the end of the tube you are using submerged as much as possible and/or lowering the height between the surface of the beer and the bottle as this will reduce the speed with which the beer "hits" the bottle.

[Jocky]

Hello All.

Hi!

Just bottled some Coopers English Bitter after a week in the FV. The last two days had given a static hydrometer reading but whilst bottling I notied that I was getting a lot of head in the bottle. I assuem this means that the beer was still fermenting and therefore have bottled too early.

CO2 is not a sign that fermentation is ongoing - it is a product of the fermentation, but quite a lot will end up dissolved in your beer as a part of the fermentation. This can then get released when the beer is agitated (in much the same way that a fizzy drink will froth up if shaken!). So you are probably worrying about nothing!

To be safe in future, measure the gravity three days in a row at the end of fermentation. Or at least a few days apart between fermentation, just to make sure that reading isn't going to drop any more. As long as your beer is in sanitary conditions an extra few days in the FV to check it is done will do it no harm, and may also help it clear a bit.

So my questions are a) what effect will this have on taste b) will my plastic bottles crack and if so c) what can I do about it and lastly d) how do I make sure this does nto happen again?

a) None at all
b) Given that it's probably fine, they won't. Having said that, if you have bottled it too early there is a chance they may split (a small one).

Is there a better way of finding out that fermentation has completed?

Not really - as I said above, just spread your gravity checks out a bit more.

Cheers

Jim

Cheers!

[jimmybobbird]

Thanks Guys - Great advice

Will let you all lnow what happens.

Sometimes it is hard to read the hydrometer as there is a bit of froth on the meniscus - I am hoping that i have not misread the hydrometer.

[Jocky]

If you get a sample jar (aka measuring cylinder) you can stick your sample in there and leave it with the hydrometer in for a while until the froth disappears, giving you a clear reading.

[jimmybobbird]

Great.....Another good tip, Cheers