New brewer - Primary Fermentation question (Coopers Lager)

patmonger · Dec 17, 2013

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and new to home brewing. I'm more of a lager drinker than beer, so I went for the Coopers Australian Lager starter kit. I pitched the brew yesterday and things seem to be going ok so far. I've got it at a consistent temperature of around 23 degrees under a blanket in my bedroom (not a whole lot of spare space in my flat).

I have a couple of questions and would appreciate it if anyone could help me out.

Firstly, I just wondered if there was any danger in moving the fermenting vessel during primary fermentation? Not that I'll need to often, but to take readings etc and maybe keep in a decent temperature, I might have to move it around. Can that damage the brew at all?

More importantly, I didn't exactly think my timings through and I'm worried about when I'm going to be able to bottle the lager, as I'm travelling to family for Christmas day. This might be a very rookie question, but is there harm in leaving the brew in primary fermentation for too long?

As I said, I started the brew yesterday (Monday 16th). The instructions say to begin gravity readings on the 6th day (this Sunday) every day until I get a stable reading twice in a row. However, I'm supposedly travelling away on Monday evening and it doesn't sound likely it will be ready for bottling then. If I rush back, just for the sake of the beer, I can return on the Friday, at which point it will have been 11 days.

Can someone give me a run down on whether the brew will spoil if left two long before secondary fermentation and maybe some advice as to whether it's more of a risk to try and bottle after 7 or so days or after 11+? Of course I'll still pay attention to the gravity readings (and maybe alter my travel plans if it calls for it), as I don't want it to be a waste.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Patrick

Vossy1 · Dec 17, 2013

Welcome to the forum Patrick :thumb:

Firstly, I just wondered if there was any danger in moving the fermenting vessel during primary fermentation? Not that I'll need to often, but to take readings etc and maybe keep in a decent temperature, I might have to move it around. Can that damage the brew at all?

No real problem. if you have an airlock fitted remove it before lifting the fv as otherwise it's contents might get sucked into your beer :shock: :lol: ...seriously. If you're using a loosened lid method it'll be fine.

More importantly, I didn't exactly think my timings through and I'm worried about when I'm going to be able to bottle the lager, as I'm travelling to family for Christmas day. This might be a very rookie question, but is there harm in leaving the brew in primary fermentation for too long?

Yes there is but you should get away with it, you don't want to go much over 10 - 14 days, especially if the fv is somewhere warm. If you suspect the fermentation is over simply move the fv somewhere a bit colder, that will help 'stall' any problems.

it's more of a risk to try and bottle after 7 or so days or after 11+? Of course I'll still pay attention to the gravity readings

If the fermentations over at 7 days you can bottle, but the beer might still be a bit cloudy so you'll end up with a lot of yeast in the bottle. Personally I'd do it on day 11 if alls well timing wise.