Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
conditioning beer
Hi i have read a lot on this forum about time in bottle or keg. I note the someone in another thread suggested that the two weeks that is suggested on the kits is usually rubbish and one should actually wait for 6-8 WEEKS as the beer will taste much more like proper pub ale etc.. which really interested me!
My question therefore is this. What exactly happens when beer is being conditioned and what happens when? if its possible to tell!! 
cheers in advance
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi mik from what little I know so far, I am only starting my 4th, the times on the kit are a bit on the short side. Following a lot of helpful advice on here I am now leaving the brew in the FV for about 14 days. That cuts down the time the beer takes to clear in the keg, I havnt tried bottle yet. I have had a good pint or three after a week in the keg but I am told its better still if you can keep your hands off it for longer, I cant hehe.
Peter
5 gal St Peters Golden Ale as per tin
Youngs Harvest Mild
all a bit moded
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Conditioning is force carbonating the beer. Because there is still a little yeast in the beer when you bottle it, by adding a bit of sugar it gives the yeasties something to feed upon. When the yeast is working it gives off carbon dioxide & because the bottle is sealed it can't escape & is forced into the beer making it fizzy. The warmer the temp the quicker it will happen but its a compromise because cooler temps helps the beer clear.
I don't have any experience of kits but usually I ferment for a week or so then transfer into the secondary for a week to clear, then bottle. After a couple of weeks its nicely carbonated. Wheat beer is a bit different, it stays in the secondary for a day as I want it cloudy.
Fermenting: Marynka pseudo-lager
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Conditioning also allows hop flavour to mellow (high ibu beers can be harsh to begin with) and other undesirable flavours to subside.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Im sure I read in one of the 'Wheeler' books that it's best to give 1 week per 0010 on the Hydrometer, so say if your original gravity was 1050 then 5 weeks would be needed as a rule of thumb.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Wheeler must have the patience of a Saint.
Fermenting: Marynka pseudo-lager
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Member
2 weeks does me!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
i suppose that if you intend to leave the beer in the FV for upto 2 weeks then you'd need to fit and airlock rather than rely on any CO2 keeping the air out? Its sounds like a reasonable idea i can really see the sense in that as i assume it starts to clear at that point!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
heh heh ... he can quite often be found floating around on another forum (cough, errr... ummm ahhh), if you find him you'll have to ask him!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I would leave kits for at least 4 weeks in the keg. They will taste a lot better if left alone for a while.
All Grain is different and is ready much quicker, 1 week in the keg usually does it for me but I'm pretty impatient.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
In my dictionary "conditioning" is just another word for "drinking".
Also in my dictionary "dictionary" is another word for "porn mag".
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
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