When to bottle

[Mark Ritchie]

Brewed for first time last Monday. OG 1060. Today 1008. Still some movement from yesterday. Once fermentation complete how long is best to leave it in fv to condition before bottling.

 

[Poochops]

I'd bottle at the weekend personally or the week after in the evening depending if I cant be bothered on the weekend! Then two weeks at room temp and two in the cool and it'll be about ready to drink.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
A lot of members leave it in the FV for two weeks to allow the yeast to clean up after itself.
After that, I'd cold crash for a day or so then rack into the bottling bucket, for ales or a second FV to cold condition if it's a lager.

 

[Mark Ritchie]

I have a bottom tap on FB and a Syphon kit. I was going to bottle direct from fv but I read that a bottling bucket is best.

 

[Mark Ritchie]

Sorry cold crash?

 

[Bigcol49]

Sorry cold crash?

Hi!
A term adopted from our American cousins; reduce the temperature to facilitate precipitation of anything in the beer that hasn't yet settled out. In summer, I use my brewfridge to cold crash, whereas in winter I leave it on the bench in my brewshed prior to racking.

 

[Bigcol49]

I have a bottom tap on FB and a Syphon kit. I was going to bottle direct from fv but I read that a bottling bucket is best.

I use a bottling bucket because my FVs don't have taps.
You will be OK to bottle direct from the fermentation FV using the tap, assuming that the outlet from the FV is well above the sediment. Expect some wastage as you want to avoid getting sediment in your bottles.
A bottling wand will make the job much easier. Make sure to spray the outside of the tap and the inside of the "spout" with sanitiser.

 

[Mark Ritchie]

Hi. That was a concern of mine using the tap which is why I purchased a Syphon kit. Don't want to get any sediment into bottles. Also read that oxidization can be a problem. When I remove air tight lid how long have I got to bottle before oxidisation becomes a factor. Thanks

 

[Bigcol49]

When I remove air tight lid how long have I got to bottle before oxidisation becomes a factor. Thanks

Hi!
Don't get hung up on air-tight lids and oxidisation. Transferring between the FV and bottling bucket (or bottle) can be a problem if the beer is allowed to splash around as this causes oxidisation.
You don't want to leave your beer uncovered for any length of time, but the hour or so it will take to bottle your beer won't be a problem.

 

[Mark Ritchie]

Cheers. Thanks for advice