Fermentation too quick?

[rowdy75]

G'day all,

I have just put down my first brew, so I have a bit of a newbie question.

My brew (coopers kit lager with ale yeasts & dextrose) fermented at around 26Deg C for four days before I got the same reading twice (morning / afternoon) on the fourth day at 1010,which is the suggested reading before bottling. So I bottled the brew (PET bottles) and have left it for 8 days now (no exploding bottles). I opened a bottle two days ago just to see how it was going and it has the right colour, carbonation, great head and tastes ok....maybe a bit too sweet but still very drinkable.

I have seen many posts recommending between 8 - 14days to ferment......have I jumped the gun too early here by allowing only 4 days? What is the quickest someone has fremented and what were the results?

Appreciate your help!

[Kevnlis]

What were the "ale yeasts"?

Same reading twice usually means wait at least 24 hours between taking the readings, though at 26C most ale yasts should have finished up within a 4 day period. Never bottle by reading, always make sure you have a reading that is stable! Just because you have hit the finished gravity they suggested does not always mean the brew is finished.

I once fully fermented a bacth of Witbier in less than 3 days, kegged and drinking the following day!

Give the bottle another few weeks, they should improve considerably!

[rowdy75]

Cheers Kev, a mate had suggested that the coopers lager cans come with Ale yeasts and temps between 22 - 28 would be ok, not sure on the yeast specifics.

I'll keep that in mind next time, I will wait longer to ensure stable gravity over 24 hrs....I was just too keen to get it in the bottle and start drinking!

Appreciate the tips.

[Kevnlis]

Ok, you used the kit yeast then. Most likely it had finished fermenting at those high temps. I would suggest being down around 16-18 for a lager (and most beers if you can).

[rwh]

Yep the Coopers yeast is voracious and would have finished in that time. So you did everything fine, and in a few weeks the sweetness will have attenuated somewhat, and you should have a decent, drinkable beer.

Now check out Simple things that make HB better for your next brewing steps!

[wm460]

G'Day,
I ferment my brew outside, in Dec Jan the temp was well over 40 C Degrees, My brews took one day to ferment, the beer was good .
I gave up bottling , to much hassles and bought a keg system.
I haven't blown up a keg yet,
Another bloke here ferments his beer in a 3m X 3m garden shed and he makes a good brew.

Cheers,
Bob.

[Kevnlis]

G'Day,
I ferment my brew outside, in Dec Jan the temp was well over 40 C Degrees, My brews took one day to ferment, the beer was good .
I gave up bottling , to much hassles and bought a keg system.
I haven't blown up a keg yet,
Another bloke here ferments his beer in a 3m X 3m garden shed and he makes a good brew.

Cheers,
Bob.

Good on ya Bob! Welcome to the fourm!

I made heaps of "good" brews in QLD summer heat with kit yeast. But now that I have fermented temperature controlled liquid yeast driven all grain wort, it is VERY hard to go back!

[wm460]

G'Day Kev,

What is temperature controlled liquid yeast driven all grain wort ?

Sorry for hijacking this thread.

Cheers,
Bob.

[lethaldog]

It is bassically that, an all grain wort ( beer made from scratch= all grain) using a liquid yeast to ferment and some sort of temperature controlled enviroment like a brew fridge with a fridgemate.

[Kevnlis]

G'Day Kev,

What is temperature controlled liquid yeast driven all grain wort ?

Sorry for hijacking this thread.

Cheers,
Bob.

"Excellent" beer!

[rowdy75]

Update to the thread......beer turned out much better than expected for my first batch. Me and a couple of mates had a big session on it recently, they were also big fans of it.......I'll be putting down a new one this weekend