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[Holsten]

Hi
I have just made a 40 pint barrel of lager and left it for a few days to start the process. I used to leave it in the airing cupboard and always had no problems. This time I left it next to my boiler (in a small cupboard) for a couple of days. It has got hotter than usual and started to make a bit of a smell. I have moved it now and the bubbles have stopped rising so I was going to bottle it. The problem is that it seems to be cloudier than usual and I wonder if I have messed up the first process by having it too hot. Would it be worth spending the time bottling it or should I just throw it away and start again?
Thanks
:hmm: :hmm:

 

[graysalchemy]

Letting your beer get to warm is a worry anything over 22c and you are running into fusel alcohol territory when yeast switch to producing fusels the ones that give hang overs and have a solventy taste.

I would either use a finnings to clear it or put it somewhere cool or on a concrete floor, that should aid clearing, also leaving it for a week after brewing won't do it any harm. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[gibb58]

Have ya taken a hydrometer reading to see if it has finished. Largers can produce an eggy smell when fermenting. What temp have you got the beer at now

 

[Holsten]

It is currently under my stairs so it is about 18-19 degrees. I am tempted to put it out in the garage for a few days as it is cold out there and it has a concrete floor.

 

[joe1002]

Leave it where it is for another 10-14 days :thumb:
Take a hydrometer reading after that

 

[Holsten]

thanks for that. I have never left a barrel that long before but it is worth a go.
I can't find my hydrometer. We have recently moved house and I've no idea where it has gone. I shall buy another.

 

[joe1002]

I (and I believe quite a few others) leave it in the fv for two weeks before even checking on it. Sometimes a move to a secondary fv after a week, but more often than not I don't.

 

[Holsten]

Sorry, although I have been brewing beer for a few years I am new to this forum. What is a fv?

 

[bobsbeer]

Fermenting Vessel. :thumb:

 

[Holsten]

Ah. Thank you. I thought it was a called a barrel or a bucket.

 

[joe1002]

Sorry, there are a lot of abbreviations on here. There is a glossary on the top left hand side of the page if you get stuck in the future, and in addition, this thread :thumb:

 

[Holsten]

Thanks for that. I think I will invest in another FV so I can be getting on brewing a new batch while I wait for this one to sort itself out.

 

[joe1002]

There you go, speaking the lingo already :lol:

Getting a second fv is a VERY good idea. You can do two beers at once, use it as a secondary fv or use it as a bottling bucket.

You could even get to more fv's :whistle: