Posted: 8/30/2014 10:07:27 PM EDT
|
1 gallon starter kit from Northern Brewer, Irish Red kit.
Fermented for two weeks, bottled for two weeks. Kept in a dark room in the basement. Flat as road kill.  Tried two bottles, both flat. I was rather disappointed. Beer had decent flavor, but man. Flat beer and soda make me gag, so it went down the drain.
I did read that sometimes give the bottle a bit of light shake, and let it sit for a couple more weeks, sometimes that wakes the yeast up. All I can figure is maybe I left it in the fermentor too long, since it said 1-2 weeks? Figured the longer the better... Anyway. I have a pumpkin ale to try next. (I followed the directions to a T. Wife and I had already experimented on some wine and mead, and we have all the sanitation down, etc. Dropped the sugar fizzer pill in each bottle.) |
|
Quoted:
Two weeks in the fermentor isn't very long. Just give it more time. It will be fine. The next time you bottle, put the last bit into a plastic pop bottle. You can check the progress of the carbonation of the batch by giving it an occasional squeeze. I like the tip of the soda bottle! Thanks! |
|
Quoted:
I'd give at least another two weeks before declaring the whole batch bad. I would slowly turn the bottles, with the cap pointed down at an angle, instead of shaking them though. Oh, I just have them sitting upright on a wooden shelf? Should I lay them on their side then? |
|
Quoted:
On the floor in your basement? That has gotten a bunch of newbies over the years, can be too cool for it to work quickly... Put it upstairs or off the floor in the basement... The Fermentor was on the floor. The bottles have been on a wooden shelf. I half thought "I should put that fermentor on a board or something." Shoulda listened to me gut. Next Time! |
|
Quoted:
Better than my first batch of hard cider. Half the bottles blew up and the rest fizzed like a high school volcano science project when cracked open. I'd take flat over what's akin to drinking pop-rocks any day. Part of the reason it took me so long to get into home brewing was a few friends attempts. I've had one of the Volcano Beers! Made a mess, and tasted terrible! I admit, I did open the first bottle over the sink with towels at the ready! |
|
Quoted:
The Fermentor was on the floor. The bottles have been on a wooden shelf. I half thought "I should put that fermentor on a board or something." Shoulda listened to me gut. Next Time! Quoted:
Quoted:
On the floor in your basement? That has gotten a bunch of newbies over the years, can be too cool for it to work quickly... Put it upstairs or off the floor in the basement... The Fermentor was on the floor. The bottles have been on a wooden shelf. I half thought "I should put that fermentor on a board or something." Shoulda listened to me gut. Next Time! Fermentor on the floor is OK, just not refermenting bottles. Bottle conditioning is trying to wake up yeast that has already pooped out in reg fermentation, so giving it better conditions is a must. I have had them good in a week, and other times 3 weeks, I'm not smart enough to know which is what although 3 weeks was higher alcohol, so that may be enough. |
|
Try leaving the bottles (standing upright, always have homebrew upright to keep the yeast in the bottom) in 70°F room temp for 2-3 weeks and then stick in the fridge for 3-4 days to chill down and draw the c02 into the liquid.
Should get a better product after these conditioning steps. |
|
2 weeks isn't very much time for bottle conditioning.
What is your basement temperature? 3 weeks at 70 F is considered the minimum for bottle conditioning. If you basement is cooler than that they you haven't given the bottle enough time. Patience is a big part of brewing beer. Try gently turning each bottle upside down and then moving them some place warmer a let it sit a few weeks. I had a winter spiced ale that took 4-5 weeks to carbonate because it was too cold in my house. These things can take time. |
|
Quoted:
Oh, I just have them sitting upright on a wooden shelf? Should I lay them on their side then? Quoted:
Quoted:
I'd give at least another two weeks before declaring the whole batch bad. I would slowly turn the bottles, with the cap pointed down at an angle, instead of shaking them though. Oh, I just have them sitting upright on a wooden shelf? Should I lay them on their side then? No, I meant turn them to get the yeast off of the bottom, but then put them back upright. |
|
Quoted:
Yes. I haven't tried the beer again. Going to give it another couple weeks at least. Quoted:
Quoted:
You did add priming sugar right before you bottled? Yes. I haven't tried the beer again. Going to give it another couple weeks at least. Oh thank God! I thought you meant you dumped ALL of it down the drain. One bottle is bad enuf! 
|